S p o r t s FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 Chinese investors must ‘respect local culture’ MANCHESTER: The flow of Chinese billionaires seek- ing to invest in European clubs, especially the Premier League, must be sensitive to local feeling should they succeed in buying a team, a senior Chinese media executive warned. Molly Li Mo, director of international and external relations at sports service platform Alisports, admitted in talks she had with European football powerbrokers at the SoccerEx Global Football Convention she had detected mixed feelings. The businessmen from China, whose President Xi Jinping has made hosting the World Cup and also ulti- mately winning it as major priorities, have flexed their financial muscle in England. They have in the past year bought clubs such as Premier League side West Brom and Championship duo Aston Villa and Wolves-whilst Chinese Super League clubs have become a major force in the transfer market. “In my inter-actions here I felt there was both excite- ment and concerns,” she said. “Each investor has its’ Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri own motivation. My only pledge is when we (the Chinese) do invest we have to be very careful to respect local sentiment.”There is a lot of culture and feeling surrounding these clubs. The buyer must be conscious they are not only serving Chinese football Five key players to interests but also local ones.” Tim Bridge, senior con- sultant at Deloitte Sports Business Group, concurred with that sentiment. “We (Deloitte) believe that this place in time watch in India’s ISL English Premier League clubs represent a very feasi- NEW DELHI: The third edition of the Indian of Molde on the shores of Norway’s League winner with Chelsea in a six-year ble return on investment,” he said. “But of course any Super League begins this weekend. AFP Romsdalsord, he won a record 110 caps for spell that ended acrimoniously when he was owner taking over a club would need to balance the Sport takes a look at five key players in the his country in a career that also saw him play forced to train with the youth team by the demands and needs associated with a club.” Paul 11-week tournament: club football in France and Cyprus. Blues’ coach at the time, Roberto Di Matteo. Duffen, former chairman of Hull City and who was in After enjoying an earlier ISL stint with the place when the club first played in China in 2009, said Lucio (Goa) Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City) Delhi Dynamos, Malouda most recently foreign investment was welcome so long as it was for The much-travelled Brazilian has a CV to India’s most capped player and all-time appeared with Wadi Degla earlier this year in the right reasons. “They have to understand the rea- die for after playing for European giants top-scorer, the 32-year-old Chhetri netted Egypt’s top-flight. sons for buying the club. If it is a vanity tool it doesn’t Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich as seven in last year’s ISL. His partnership with always work,” he said. well as winning the 2002 World Cup in the veteran former Manchester United for- Iain Hume (Atletico de Kolkata) “Also try to eliminate as many of the middle men as Japan. Now aged 38, he remains an impos- ward Diego Forlan will be key to their hopes The Scottish-born Canadian internation- possible who are trying to get involved in the deal. ing presence at centre-back and will captain of becoming champions. Mumbai City failed al has made a remarkable comeback since Otherwise it becomes dysfunctional. “The buyer must Goa under another Brazilian legend, Zico. to make the semi-finals in either of the two his skull was fractured during a match while understand local culture and respect it. “If they try and Goa reached the final last year but their earlier editions but their new-look forward playing for Barnsley in England’s second defeat to Chennaiyin came at a heavy price line looks the most potent on paper. Chettri tier in 2008. Doctors feared for his life and change it they will be knocking their head against a as they were fined after a post-match brawl. is also likely to relish playing with the affable he was left with an 18-inch horseshoe scar. brick wall.” Bridge said the Chinese could also learn a Despite that setback, Lucio says he is up for Forlan after spending last season alongside He battled back to play again in the same lot from English football in developing their own game the challenge in this year’s contest, saying he the famously brooding figure of Frenchman season but seemed destined to never quite back home. A large delegation was in Manchester this wants to go one better with FC Goa this year Nicolas Anelka. Mumbai will play their home fulfill his early promise. But since signing for week on a fact finding mission, visiting not only the signing for a second season with the coastal matches this year in the new Mumbai Sports Kerala Blasters in the first edition of the ISL, Convention but also local clubs. outfit. Arena in the northern suburb of Andheri, the powerful centre-forward has been “For learning about grassroots development they where Chhetri spurred India to a 4-1 victory arguably the tournament’s outstanding can learn a lot about how to do it or not to do it in John Arne Riise (Chennaiyin) over Puerto Rico earlier in September. player. He won the Most Valuable Player England,” he said. “They are willing to learn about the Now 36, the former Liverpool and Roma award in 2014 and was the ISL’s second best practices on and off the pitch.” Spain too is get- player is back for a second stint in the ISL Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos) highest scorer last year with 11 after mak- ting in on helping the Chinese develop the sport back after playing last year with the Delhi A beaten World Cup finalist in 2006, ing the switch from Kerala to Kolkata. in China, working alongside the Chinese Ministry of Dynamos. A left-back famed for his spectac- Malouda used to partner the great Zinedine Kolkata’s chances of winning a second title Education and supplying coaches to schools. “For the ular long-range shooting, the red-headed Zidane in France’s midfield. So he will doubt- after their triumph in the inaugural edition Football Development project we have sent 40 Riise is best known for his seven-year spell less be looking forward to Delhi’s show- will depend in large part on the 32-year- with Liverpool in which he made nearly 250 downs against Chennaiyin and their Italian old’s link-up with former Spurs striker coaches to schools in China and we have renewed appearances. His finest hour came when the coach Marco Materazzi, whom Zidane infa- Helder Postiga. The Portuguese scored the contract and will send 53 for next season,” said team from Merseyside won the 2005 mously headbutted in the 2006 final. Along twice in his debut for Atletico last season former Malaga and Real Madrid player Fernando Champions League against AC Milan after with his 80 international caps, Malouda was before getting injured and missing the rest Sanz, who is now general director for La Liga interna- being 3-0 down at half-time. Born in the city an English Premier League and Champions of the competition. —AFP tional projects. —AFP ISL doing it India’s way as China splurges MUMBAI: The third Indian Super long football tournament. All India Football Federation said. other than President Xi Jinping. “I com- League season kicks off tomorrow with While India is yet to attract top play- Chinese Super League clubs have spent pliment (China) but given all the con- organizers intent on turning it into a ers at the height of their powers, unlike just over 400 million euros ($447 mil- siderations, Indian football is going in global brand and shrugging off compar- the deep-pocketed Chinese Super lion) on players this year, luring players the right direction,” Patel said. Brazilian isons with big-spending China. Former League, Indian officials say it is unfair to like 26-year-old Liverpool target Alex legend Zico returns as FC Goa’s manag- Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan, compare the vastly different Asian Teixeira and Italy forward Graziano er for a third consecutive season, while Brazilian World Cup-winner Lucio and giants. “In China and India the situation Pelle, 31. Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Champions League winner John Arne cannot be the same because in China But Patel said India was in a different Zambrotta will coach Delhi Dynamos Riise are some of the stars of yesteryear the might of the government is fully position to China, where a push to raise and Englishman Steve Coppell is man- turning out in the eight-team, 11-week- behind,” Praful Patel, president of the football standards comes from none aging Kerala Blasters. —AFP.