Goal 2013: International Convention of Football Business – Concept to Reality in 3 Months!

Those who work in India tend to complain about how long it takes to get anything done. Although I agree with this to some extent as there are many examples of individuals, obstacles and red tape standing in the way of forward progress, it’s worth noting that the lack of structure in the country opens the door for projects to get completed with unprecedented velocity as well. One such example of this is the recent football conference which took place in Delhi called Goal 2013.

This was a concept discussed during a meeting between my colleagues at Libero Sports and our peers at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).  We recognized that there is a need and a demand for a platform where all industry stakeholders can get together to have focused, strategic discussions on the future of the beautiful game in India.  Rather than wait for someone else to put it together, we chose to do it ourselves to get the property off the ground.

What transpired after that conversation was nothing short of a miracle.  It was as if the second we chose to take on the project, the Universe lent us as a helping hand to ensure it happened.  FIFA, AFC and AIFF all agreed to support the project and send representatives to serve on the panels.  Hundreds of people began to inquire about registering for the conference.  Even with all that movement, there were still some moments leading up to the conference where I wondered loudly whether we were going to be able to pull it off.

In the end Goal 2013 was a grand success.  2 packed days of football discussion, over 200 delegates in attendance and prominent speakers representing organizations from FIFA to village based NGOs.  The best part was that it was the first time since I moved to India where I saw all facets of the industry get together and discuss the game in a meaningful way. New relationships were starting to form, partnerships put in place and I can bet my life that each person who attended the convention walked away with more contacts and information about the industry they work in.

I’m very proud of my friends at FICCI and my team at Libero Sports India for putting this together. This property has a bright future and I know that its growth will only mirror the growth of the beautiful game in India.  




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