Business and sports items are inseparable. Although in many countries of the European continent, investments in football are often perceived as a business project (for example, the income of investors in such clubs as, Chelsea, PSG, Manchester City), then in Kazakhstan they are exclusively charitable. One of those who really decided to make a financial flow of investments in domestic football and its infrastructure is Berik Kaniev, a well-known businessman in Kazakhstan, co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of JSC “Lancaster Group”. In a small interview with our publication, Berik Kaniev spoke at length about the development of children's and youth football, investments in football and indicated his position in the vector of development of FFC as a whole.
- Berik Seralievich, not so long ago in Almaty was held a major conference on the development of children's and youth football. It caused an insignificant reaction in the sports community.How would you rate it?
— It was a very productive and positive conference. In the first place, we always wanted an open format conference with the participation of the President of the FFC, so that they could discuss the program of children's and mass football in an interactive mode. Thanks to its format, many specialists and guests were able to ask their questions of interest, express their opinion on this or that problem, openly discuss the most pressing requests and, if possible, solve them. All this was done very seriously and responsibly, and therefore received a lively discussion, which resulted in a unanimous decision on the acceptance of the program. I always support such advice, and to speak, we recently held a meeting with children's trainers.
- Initially, when Erlan Kozhagapanov came to the post of head of FC, he had many opponents who criticized that he was not a football man. How do you say he's moving in the right direction?
— Absolutely right. To date, a person has the opportunity to work. After all, the situation with football in our country is not simple, and there was no problem. It is absolutely indisputable that the Football Federation was managed by a former football player. Erlan is a capable person, he quickly understands what is happening, communicates a lot, effectively makes contact with regions, decides in places of many requests. For example, a program for the development of children's and youth football was created with the cooperation of foreign consultants. The fact that every day there is a model of openness of the Federation, contributing to a lively and open discussion, is talked about a lot. It is very useful. That is why the head of the federation is a public duty, and a very important support of the whole society. Open consultations and the development program should bear fruit, therefore its direction is true. They are still directly stating about the problem of infrastructure, about the small staff of children's teachers, about the transition of games... Erlan Kozhagapanov by the time, and there is hope that after a certain period we will see the result.
— You are one of the curators of the project of the Almaty Children's and Youth Football League. Tell us about your income in this project, oh my friend?
— I am actively engaged in my own private club “Arlan”, which includes both veterans and amateurs. We once laid a lawn at the CSKA sports base (e.g. red. — Satpaeva-Ug.ul.Furmanova). This is a social project for children, in which more than 600 young football players were activated. Having analyzed the situation in the city, we came to the conclusion that we need a league of children's and youth football for a private club and for DÜSCH. After all, in our country there are many private commands, and there are no competitive processes and priorities. Not even for backyard clubs! There is a tournament “Bulgarian Dop”, but it is quite massive, it satisfies a large number of participants - students from the school, that is, these are not professional football players. And we, together with my other Marat Abdildabekov (ed. — Chief Director of IT Technologies of JSC “Kazakhtelecom”) decided to open a data project, which has been successfully developing since 2011. On a daily basis, the project employs almost 2000 people and almost 60 commands. The league has become so popular that the league “A” and the league “B” will be worth it. In the first league there will be 12 teams of 5 age groups, and in the second 8 teams of 5 age categories. We expect to participate in about 100 commands. With each subbot and resurrection, they will be measured by the strength of the entire process, knowing this is necessary to experiment.
In the last award, dedicated to the fifth league, 800 people gathered, these are children and parents. What can be remembered for a little girl at his age, when he takes the stage and receives a prize and a medal from veteran football. Even if he does not become a professional, in the educational field for any child this is very important. Acknowledging the announcement of FFC in the capacity of vice president for the development of children and youth football, she and Marathom and other colleges set the goal of scaling this project under the aegis of the All-Kazakhstan Federation. In our country there is already an agreement with our regions, and I want to create by the end of 2016 such a format where villages will play with villages, and regions with districts, and the winners will then be included in the final games in Almaty or Astana. We'll take the winner of the tournament to the finish line. I believe that through mass children and youth football we could realistically reach the level of our championship.
— Quite a lot, they talked about the absence of football players “Kairata” at the meeting...
-... they did not participate at first, but over time they showed interest and expressed their desire to participate in the league. In this year, FC “Kairat” will participate in our country, which is the greatest honor and glory of our league. In this case, we can not move all 5 affiliates, so only two of them will be played. It is understandable that every coach wants to feel the results of their work, namely in the team fight, but they still have to remember that the places are limited there. It is worth noting that the final goal of any tournament is to get the best result, and talented football players need to show themselves to get into FC “Kairat”. And for the rest of the children, this is the curls, strengthening the strength and getting an incentive for the movement of learning.
Tell me how much you love football. At the moment, the process of appointing the head coach of the national team was so complicated, and there was no dispute over the use of the national specialist. You personally for whom?
- We can understand that our coaches have their own horrors, but it is possible to tell strangers that our specialists can transfer better experience, knowledge and technology. It is no secret to anyone that foreign schools are very developed, and therefore, in my opinion, such a formula will work. Vote, Jose Mourinho admitted to Porto he was an assistant head coach, and then became famous, and the local staff changed. Or take, for example, Kakao, the coach of the Brazilian futsal club “Kairat” and the collective Kazakhstan, with whom we recently won bronze at the European Championship. I believe that we should join us at the Academy with foreign specialists and appoint as assistants to our promising young mentors, so that they have the necessary experience.
- I agree that our football will not be transferred to a new, high level, if the clubs do not turn out to be private. Do you think he is ready to transfer football to private hands next time? Or in the form of a public-private partnership?
— In principle, this is a ready-made model and who can express a desire to acquire a club, but for many businessmen it is a real pleasure. If in Europe this is a profitable business, then in our country only the one who is very fond of football is involved in this, and they just want to finance any club. The fact is that in our country there is no shortage of visits to stadiums, advertising, selling attributes, etc. I want, finally, it is possible — to transfer football into private hands, but it takes time. I am told what to invest in when they see a successful outcome, both for the club and for the business.
- In my opinion, one of the most successful football projects in the country was the club “Tessna”, under the wing of which came many football players who played a lot of football. Your investments bring any direction of football of mass character. Is it not planned to create such a structure, such an academy?
- I talked with the heads of the city administration about how to take control of one of the sports facilities. Because on a daily basis there are problems with infrastructure, and for the conduct of leagues in the city for football and other sporting events, playgrounds are needed. Such projects are busy, but for patrons, for football lovers, the creation of their own Academy is a terrible idea and it is in me. In its time, the hotel was held at the CSKA stadium, but CSKA was a state institution, and since then there was no law on public-private partnership, there were some competitions and participation in such projects It was inexpedient. But if this model continues to be implemented on the basis of the GPP, on conditions favorable to us, where we could fully manage the project, then we will examine this idea.
Details: http://vesti.kz/blog/18278/post/818/
