Players like these 4 just make it that much more worth watching...Extraordinary talents!
This is a question that many South African Football franchise brand managers have asked themselves time and time again. How do we fill stadiums lik they do overseas? That is aotally different tdebate and I will do an article on it once I have given it a bit more thought. But, for now we will look at why exactly the Barclays Premier League is more attractive to viewers than out local Premier Soccer League, otherwise known as The PSL.
The Big Name Players
There are a lot more big name players that currently ply their trade in Europe and England. Events like the FIFA World Cup alert non-everyday viewers to these players and they prefer to watch them week in week out. Players like Beckham, Ronaldo, Messi, Drogba, Tevez and Ronaldinho do not only bring high price tags to the table. They also bring a host of new viewers, supporters, shirt sales, merchandise sales, ticket sales, magazine subscriptions, supporters club affiliations and even the extremists that get tatooed with their faces & names 😛
The Quality Of Football Is Better
If you know anything about comparing items then you will be able to hear me on this one. Whether it be dresses, boardies, glasses, or styles of football, everyone has a different way of doing things and a style they prefer! Abroad the football is much more tactical than in South Africa. This is actually one of the biggest problems with South African players. They are streaks ahead when it comes to skill, their first touch, vision, control, strength, technical ability and power, but are years behind the European players when it comes to tactical awareness. This is why you will see British sides keeping the ball for longer periods than South African sides, and, more importantly using the ball more effectively in useful areas!!!
Television Viewing
Back in the days when your granpa’s used to walk 50 km’s to school mainly white families had the priviledge of a television, if that! Therefore, when the English Premier League was introduced it gained a huge white audience because of the fact that it was ‘new’ and hell, we were watching people in England play Live! Sure there was local football on television too, but with the Premier League hosting players like Henry, Ian Wright, Andy Cole, Matt Le Tissier, Paulo Di Canio, Zola, Ronaldo, Owen and now Rooney, there was only ever going to be one winner. Especially with juicy events like Erci Cantona fly kicking fans in the chest during a game 😉
Our First Soccer Club Years
Let’s all just be honest here for a second. Who the fuck ever saw a kid when they were younger wearing a full Sundowns kit? Maybe one or two, I think I even had an old Iwisa Chiefs top, but in general you are looking at Beckham, United, Owen, Liverpool, Henry, Arsenal, Lampard, Chelsea and so on. It is always a European kit that stands out amongst the rest, that one of the other kids wants! I have no idea why, it always just turns out like that! Then ofcoarse they don’t just want the top, they want the whole bladdy kit. Supporter for life!
Our Parents & Siblings
We all have a dad or older brother that either watched, played or supported the wonderful game. In my case it was a trip to Banana Beach somewhere near Durbs when my pops, brother and cuzzie all went to get some kits at the shop. When I noticed they got me the same as theirs was already not on. Not to mention the fact that it was a bladdy Liverpool top. I immediately went back to the store and got a United kit. For some reason God was telling me which path to take, and, I must say it has been a great one 😉 So there you go, either you follow in their footsteps or you create your own destiny…
The Media
Because leagues like the Barclay’s Premiership are so big and so widely viewed, the media like to create a certain hype around big games, derbies, manager quarrels, performances and transfers. It is more exciting for us to hear news about top International stars, rather than the ones right on our doorstep I suppose 🙁 It is sad, but true! How many adverts do you see advertising overseas based games, players, teams and competitions compared to that of South African based adverts. South Africa are definitely catching up, but for now it is the English boys that prevail!
English Sides Are Big Global Brands
Teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern Munich all have brand values worth over $100 million. It is no joke when it comes to penetrating new markets, buying big name players and creating new strategic business relationships through charity and sponsorships! They aim to penetrate every corner of the globe with their names, to become a household favourite when the topic of football comes up. People like teams for different reasons. It may be their history, a specific player or even the manager, but trust these big boys to exploit that wherever they can. I know Man Utd use their player Nationalities as an advantage to penetrating those specific markets. For example Vidic – Serbia, Hernandez – Mexico, Rooney – England, Park – Korea and so on…
Just one last picture as a tribute to an Old Trafford legend, and, a truly great footballer. Good to have you back King Eric, the game wasn't the same without you!
I think the major differences are:
1.Crowds,when a psl game is sold out it is awesome,not as great as epl but still awesome
2.Production values,some games have quality camera work etc others do not.Have you watched a epl team take on a lower league team,it look just as bad as a cosmos v arrows game.
3.Tactics,our managers are not all that tactical and its a pity
Well atleast the psl is alot better than the mls,the mls is a joke.
Long live the toon!
Definitely the big one I missed out is the production/media quality. It is streaks ahead overseas and watching a dull screen, on a shit pitch is not all that entertining!
Another thing you mentioned is the crowds. Fully agree, PSL games struggle to get a full house, whereas English grounds are beating people away as the stadiums are packed to the rafters! Also the atmosphere over there is second to none, as I saw during the England World Cup games. The fans chant, sing and fully get behind their side! Here it is more of an event/public spectacle, more so than a die hard religion!
Very nice blog. Thanks for the great comparison. TV/Media/Production quality a big factor!
nice one mate!