SME-Written by: Ali Al-Basha
Last week, my attention caught the generous financial donation from the President of the Kuwait Football Association, Abdullah Al-Shaheen, to the players of his under-23 team that qualified for the Asian Cup finals (Qatar 2024), and this was met with praise from the football community in the sister country. In particular, the majority of the donation comes from his own pocket, which emphasizes the importance of donating to raise players’ morale.
• I believe that as a businessman (may God protect him from his good deeds), he did not come to head the federation for merit, but rather to serve the game in his country, and when the donation comes from his own money; He has a good voice, confirming that he did not come to earn money, to be a tourist, or to search for “prestige,” like other presidents of many sports federations and clubs in our vast Arab country who do not pay “a single penny.”
• Of course, there are those similar to (Al-Shaheen) in some clubs, but these are very few; Which makes sports institutions depend mainly on government support if they do not have private investments, while those who gain prestige from their administrative presence (the owners of empty basements) have no choice but to lament the weak budget that governs their club’s activities and they must (beg) to obtain support.
• The arena may not be devoid of people like the Shaheen, but they are rare. It is common knowledge that those who compete for such positions, which give them fame; They are supposed to be prepared to pay from their own money to their clubs in times of hardship and prosperity. The media gains they obtain do not prevent them from turning into “scammers” in search of sources of funding for their clubs’ competitive activities.
• Without a doubt (if I let it be ruined), I personally know that our local square; Even in the Gulf, its clubs found presidents (defeaa), even if they were at a level that did not exceed the number of fingers on one hand, and they had an exceptional role in finding sources of funding from their own pockets that enabled their clubs to obtain advanced local positions, especially with the absence of private investments that would revive the clubs’ budgets.
• In any case, those who aspire to leadership positions in federations and clubs are supposed to be able to pay from their own pocket. Especially when the situation requires it, and their presence in leadership positions should not be only honorary, (prestige) must have a (price), and if the situation requires detailing laws for access; Measured by those who are able to pay, or attract supporting companies or personalities.
