Sports investment

SME-Written by: Ali Al-Basha
• At the Bahraini Sports Summit at the beginning of last year 2023, which represented one of the serious initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Chairman of the General Sports Authority; The topic (sports investment) was one of the important topics discussed at the Regency symposium. Since His Highness’s directives should not be left inactive, it is necessary, a year after the symposium, to mention one of its items, which is (sports investment).
• Here I am opening the file (investing in players) considering that the meaning of the word is (loose) and takes on several dimensions, all of which aim to develop the sport. I have (personally) opened such a file, including what I presented this month regarding the allocation of clubs that produce players. Considering that there are clubs that open their arms only to attract what other clubs produce, and (at a low price) do not achieve a small amount of what they (generate), as they have always graduated talented players with their modest capabilities.
• The problem of some clubs that aim to achieve championships in the (adult) category; She has many tricks that she plays on the (produced) clubs. If not from the door, then temptation from the window, and behind the backs of these clubs; In order to put pressure on the latter through the players themselves and their guardians, without taking into account any moral ethics; Therefore, the poor clubs pay the price for this pressure, due to the lack of controls related to sponsorship rights, which makes it easier for them to pass through the eye of the needle!
• This happens in group games specifically, and also the game of table tennis. Clubs have often been victims of better transfer (outputs), without taking into account their rights supported by international decisions, and overlooked by their local counterparts. Because those responsible for the latter do not want to cause headaches, or out of a desire to compliment one club over another, and benefit from the pressure factor that we referred to, the sponsorship rights are gone without obtaining the money and effort it cost them, and before that, discovery and development.
• Therefore, it is not strange that Dar Kulaib Club pays football
The pricey plane in the last Arab Championship; By going to consolation roles, this is a result of his not benefiting from the local investment in the players he produced, but rather the clubs that acquired them for a price that did not amount to the real right of sponsorship. Even if his investment in them was in line with his productivity; To be able to add professional players who made a qualitative difference, even though the tournament lacked the participation of strong clubs!
• Therefore, I return to knocking on the door of the General Sports Authority to discuss the outcomes of sports investment in line with the efforts of the clubs that produce players, especially since investment today in players is the global phenomenon that enables them to obtain huge funds that compensate for their productivity, and where their coffers are flourishing with millions; Unless we look at investment differently from the developed world, or if the outputs return to being locked in the drawers against which the warning was clear and clear!