An off-season oddity or the final frontier for Australian clubs? The true nature of the Asian Champions League will soon be revealed, as Sydney FC and Adelaide United embark on their own excellent adventure.
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As you might expect, Sydney FC and United players are excited at the prospect of competing in a new competition, in new environments, against styles and players many never will have seen before.
“It’s a big step,” Sydney FC striker David Zdrilic admits. “Obviously with the Socceroos going into Asia, at club level it brings us that much closer to the professionalism that we wanted. We’ll be playing against big teams, in front of big crowds. I’m sure we can be competitive.”
Zdrilic remains confident about Sydney’s chances, despite their meek exit from this year’s A-League finals. Asian football is known for its inconsistencies with a team looking like world-beaters one week and amateurs the next. With only eight sides in the domestic competition, the A-League players are used to a situation where they know the intricacies of their week-to-week opposition. Travelling to places like China, surrounded by foreign customs, regimented fans and alien climate conditions, will stretch the Australians’ powers of adaptation to the limit.
Another factor acting against our teams is that many of the Asian sides have huge wage budgets, elite playing rosters and the experience of previous ACL competitions. Together with the fact that many of the other sides will be “in season” during the group stage – unlike the Australians – ACL 2007 begins to take on the appearance of mission impossible for Sydney and Adelaide.
However, Adelaide’s Travis Dodd is more optimistic.
“It’s a difficult one, you know,” says the Adelaide and Socceroo midfielder. “Virtually all I’ve seen of the Asian Champions League is the bit they show on SBS here and there. It’s going to be all new for us and the club, travelling to Asia to play games. I guess also with our season not being on here, we’re only going to be playing competitive games once a fortnight, so it’ll be a tough test for the club as well to get around that.”
Michael Petrillo, CEO of Adelaide United, is equally cautious.
“I’m sure that we’ll be competitive, however we must also be realistic in our expectations about the on field results. If we were to top the group and qualify for the quarter finals that would be a tremendous achievement in itself, but in reality that will be tough as we are playing against the champion clubs of China and Korea who operate with huge budgets and have several national team players, as well as top flight foreigners in their squads.”
For the isolated Australian football scene, the ACL is a unique opportunity for clubs to extend their name beyond the limits of their city of origin. Whatever their ultimate level of success, clubs acknowledge the competition’s significance in business terms.
“Football is the number one code throughout the region and the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people is something no other sporting club in Australia is able to currently do in that market,” Petrillo says.
But despite the potential financial and brand-building opportunities, for Adelaide United and Sydney FC, a successful campaign in Asia this year may actually result in a blow to the hip pocket. Due to travel and accommodation demands the clubs could run up a debt. In Europe, the Champions League receives millions of dollars in broadcast revenue, negating debt of this kind for its competing clubs. Yet the ACL does not yet attract the same levels of broadcaster interest. In addition, Adelaide and Sydney at the time of writing have not yet secured deals with current or new commercial partners to help subsidise the cost of ACL participation.
“In truth without being able to procure a major partner for the tournament it may mean it will actually cost us in financial terms to be involved,” Petrillo says. “It doesn’t seem right that the reward for participation is an increase in financial commitment.”
Both Sydney and Adelaide have also faced difficulties in registering squads for the ACL. Contract negotiations with players for the two seasons of the
A-League have been based around the 21-match domestic season. With the addition of the ACL running March to November, these pioneering clubs have struggled to secure a squad for their ACL campaign. The problem has been exacerbated by the FFA’s decision to reject appeals by the clubs for ACL player payments to fall outside the salary cap.
While testing themselves against the top talent in Asia is obviously a draw, for Hyundai A-League clubs, many of which are still finding their feet administratively and financially, entry into the ACL has already proven demanding before a ball has been kicked.
“The time frame in which we have had to negotiate with potential sponsors and even with the playing squad has been very difficult,” adds Petrillo. “But hopefully from next year onwards we will be given sufficient time to prepare thoroughly. This is why in my opinion, it is best to know in advance, as Melbourne Victory do now, that you will participate in 12 months time, as it will give Hyundai A-League clubs time to go to the market.”
Administrative lessons have been learned and in 2008 things will improve, but Australian clubs will still face issues with their Asian inexperience, seasonal oddities and budget restrictions. It may be some years before our clubs can match the exploits of the Socceroos, and rise to top of the Asian pile.
Nonetheless, Australian football fans are fortunate. These ACL fixtures provide more fodder for the fans of the competing clubs to cheer and jeer. Equally, for all football supporters, they will provide a fascinating demonstration of where our football stands on a continental level.
Just remember, think of the ACL like a bowl of Special Combination Noodles – expect to be surprised.
“It’s a big step,” Sydney FC striker David Zdrilic admits. “Obviously with the Socceroos going into Asia, at club level it brings us that much closer to the professionalism that we wanted. We’ll be playing against big teams, in front of big crowds. I’m sure we can be competitive.”
Zdrilic remains confident about Sydney’s chances, despite their meek exit from this year’s A-League finals. Asian football is known for its inconsistencies with a team looking like world-beaters one week and amateurs the next. With only eight sides in the domestic competition, the A-League players are used to a situation where they know the intricacies of their week-to-week opposition. Travelling to places like China, surrounded by foreign customs, regimented fans and alien climate conditions, will stretch the Australians’ powers of adaptation to the limit.
Another factor acting against our teams is that many of the Asian sides have huge wage budgets, elite playing rosters and the experience of previous ACL competitions. Together with the fact that many of the other sides will be “in season” during the group stage – unlike the Australians – ACL 2007 begins to take on the appearance of mission impossible for Sydney and Adelaide.
However, Adelaide’s Travis Dodd is more optimistic.
“It’s a difficult one, you know,” says the Adelaide and Socceroo midfielder. “Virtually all I’ve seen of the Asian Champions League is the bit they show on SBS here and there. It’s going to be all new for us and the club, travelling to Asia to play games. I guess also with our season not being on here, we’re only going to be playing competitive games once a fortnight, so it’ll be a tough test for the club as well to get around that.”
Michael Petrillo, CEO of Adelaide United, is equally cautious.
“I’m sure that we’ll be competitive, however we must also be realistic in our expectations about the on field results. If we were to top the group and qualify for the quarter finals that would be a tremendous achievement in itself, but in reality that will be tough as we are playing against the champion clubs of China and Korea who operate with huge budgets and have several national team players, as well as top flight foreigners in their squads.”
For the isolated Australian football scene, the ACL is a unique opportunity for clubs to extend their name beyond the limits of their city of origin. Whatever their ultimate level of success, clubs acknowledge the competition’s significance in business terms.
“Football is the number one code throughout the region and the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people is something no other sporting club in Australia is able to currently do in that market,” Petrillo says.
But despite the potential financial and brand-building opportunities, for Adelaide United and Sydney FC, a successful campaign in Asia this year may actually result in a blow to the hip pocket. Due to travel and accommodation demands the clubs could run up a debt. In Europe, the Champions League receives millions of dollars in broadcast revenue, negating debt of this kind for its competing clubs. Yet the ACL does not yet attract the same levels of broadcaster interest. In addition, Adelaide and Sydney at the time of writing have not yet secured deals with current or new commercial partners to help subsidise the cost of ACL participation.
“In truth without being able to procure a major partner for the tournament it may mean it will actually cost us in financial terms to be involved,” Petrillo says. “It doesn’t seem right that the reward for participation is an increase in financial commitment.”
Both Sydney and Adelaide have also faced difficulties in registering squads for the ACL. Contract negotiations with players for the two seasons of the
A-League have been based around the 21-match domestic season. With the addition of the ACL running March to November, these pioneering clubs have struggled to secure a squad for their ACL campaign. The problem has been exacerbated by the FFA’s decision to reject appeals by the clubs for ACL player payments to fall outside the salary cap.
While testing themselves against the top talent in Asia is obviously a draw, for Hyundai A-League clubs, many of which are still finding their feet administratively and financially, entry into the ACL has already proven demanding before a ball has been kicked.
“The time frame in which we have had to negotiate with potential sponsors and even with the playing squad has been very difficult,” adds Petrillo. “But hopefully from next year onwards we will be given sufficient time to prepare thoroughly. This is why in my opinion, it is best to know in advance, as Melbourne Victory do now, that you will participate in 12 months time, as it will give Hyundai A-League clubs time to go to the market.”
Administrative lessons have been learned and in 2008 things will improve, but Australian clubs will still face issues with their Asian inexperience, seasonal oddities and budget restrictions. It may be some years before our clubs can match the exploits of the Socceroos, and rise to top of the Asian pile.
Nonetheless, Australian football fans are fortunate. These ACL fixtures provide more fodder for the fans of the competing clubs to cheer and jeer. Equally, for all football supporters, they will provide a fascinating demonstration of where our football stands on a continental level.
Just remember, think of the ACL like a bowl of Special Combination Noodles – expect to be surprised.
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