Matchday Magazine 06/2018

OFFICIAL CASUALS MAGAZINE 06/2018

Name: Dawid Szałankiewicz City: Lesko Born: 1993 Profession: Editor in chief (Matchday) Support: Manchester United Other: Executive director, Interviews

4

We would like to invite you on Journey around the World. To show you people... people like You, who live with passion, and nothing is as important as passion. It was pleasure to talk to all these people. Everyone has their own story: football, photography, lm, craft beer, design, kits, clothing, fashion, street art, grafti, painting, box, music, poetry, ultras... Remember, the World Cup is just an excuse.

Name: Kacper Sokół City: Warsaw // Katowice Born: 1992 Profession: Graphic design Support: Arsenal FC Other: Illustrations, kits katalogue

Many try to face with the question if football can be considered an art. For me the answer is obvious- denitely yes. Ambigously.

Some may perceive football with an agelong fascination and admiration to athletics and beauty of human body’s motion. I however dene football as a source of inspiration for further art creations. In this here issue I’ll try to show you the true beauty and diversity of patterns and design all kits to be worn during the World Cup.

OFFICIAL CASUALS MAGAZINE 06/2018

08-11 PROLOGUE ///

by DAWID SZAŁANKIEWICZ

12-127 INTERVIEWS ///

by DAWID SZAŁANKIEWICZ

128-145 RUSSIA 2018 KITS CATALOGUE ///

by KACPER SOKÓŁ

146 LINE UP ///

by DAWID SZAŁANKIEWICZ

147 WORLD CUP MEMORIES /// LAYOUT DESIGN / TYPESETTING /// by KACPER SOKÓŁ COVER DEGIGN /// by MARCUS REED

by MARCUS REED

RUSSIA

14

U R U G UAY

17

EGYPT

21

SAUDI ARABIA

PORTUGAL

30

SPAIN

33

36 IRAN

MOROCCO

FRANCE

44

47 PERU

DENMARK

50

AUSTRALIA

ARGENTINA

60

C R O AT I A

63

ICELAND

66

NIGERIA

BRASIL

74

SWITZERLAND

77

C O S TA R I C A

80

SERBIA

GERMANY

88

MEXICO

91

KOREA

94

SWEDEN

BELGIUM

103

ENGLAND

105

TUNISIA

108

PANAMA

116

COLOMBIA

119

SENEGAL

122

125

POLAND

24 39 53 69

83

97

111 JAPAN

10

9

X

Pr o l o g u e RIAZ KHAN

It will be a bloodbath!

City: Leicester Born: 1966 Profession: Lecturer at De Montford

University

So, in your prime me, being a part of the Baby Squad. What would you choose: be with your mates in the Snooty Fox before Leicester game, or be somewhere in the South of France, next to a beach and wai ng for the World Cup game?

If I could go back I would definitely be with the Baby Squad dressed in my clobber awai ng the arrival of an opposing firm.

Support: Leicester City Other: Ex-member of Baby Squad English Disease is o en related to the games in the UK and your achievements at home. But we can’t forget that it was also associated with big tournaments, right?

The English disease will always be associated with football whether it be at a na onal or interna onal level. As for the big games that were in the past, it is not as such now because of banning orders etc.

Gary Boatsy Clarke told me about World Cup’s: It was a laugh and spontaneous. Italia 90 was a party atmosphere. What kind of approach you have to the World Cup? What’s the difference between cheering Leicester?

To be honest I have only been to two England matches and to me it is not the same as cheering on your home team.

What the World Cup means to you and what’s the first interna onal tournament you remember, maybe some stories related to it?

Like I men oned above I have only been to two England games and they were last year! I never a ended them due to the racist nature of fans and being warned by lads you had to contend with a large following of Chelsea who were notorious in the old days with their a achment to Far Right groups like C18.

As an important person for Casual culture. Which supporters have the best style of dress? Finally, English Disease which spilled over to Europe also influenced the way they were dressed.

The best dressed fans have always been the English, we have had that unique look. Although our clothes are mainly from Italian designers it was the way we dressed that inspired interna onal firms to adopt this Casual dress sense.

10

Unfortunately, apart from fashion, you have influenced the behavior of the fans all over the world. So we have now the new face of football hooliganism, which has reared in the form of the Russian Ultras.

The Russian Ultras are on a next level taking Football Violence to another hardcore level. They aren't the best dressers but they are brutal when it comes to the violence. They truly do not understand the Casual culture and all it encompasses.

In your opinion, where this violence and aggression among Russian supporters come from?

The Russians have a history of being tough and now with this resurgence of na onal pride in their country, they want to prove to the world that they are the best at everything. Look at the MMA world you have compe ve Russians figh ng and now there’s a world champion Khabib from Russia! Pu n encourages this Warrior type macho Russian man so I believe this is so.

MMA trained, highly athle c, no rules… just to go to Europe and show your skills. They’re more like some warriors than supporters. Contrary to England. Most of the English hardcore stay at home in the UK, why?

They stay at home due to banning orders and the hardcore lot have grown much older. Most are in the late 40's and early 50's now with family so I cannot see them running around doing what they did 20 years previously.

You have men oned above the racist nature of fans in the past. How did you feel about it, do you remember any stories/situa ons related to this?

It wasn’t nice hearing fans chant monkey sounds at black players and in the past bananas were thrown at around layers. Songs like there’s no black in the Union Jack send the bastards back! made me feel very uncomfortable but this Casual culture broke down many racial barriers were people of social class and ethnicity were welcome.

How does the past (as a member of Baby Squad) affect your present life? It helps or not?

Being a former Casual helped me a lot, gave me confidence and the ability to deal with certain situa ons.

Also, you had that dress sense and style that never leaves you.

11

„ At first the Russian authorities were clamping down and warning known hooligan not to cause trouble but with recent events here in the UK, I believe the authorities may turn a blind eye.

I think it will be a great tournament, but I am concerned with officials being bribed.

Ok., let's leave the fight and violence on the side.

World Cup, for a mass of people, is an opportunity to celebrate and party. We can meet and talk with people from all over the world. How do you think this affects sociological?

Sports brings people of all races and religions together and I believe when we have a mel ng pot of cultures all coming together under the banner of sports can break down many barriers.

As an Asian member of Baby Squad, you could find a group of people with whom you iden fy, how much football can help in this aspect?

I am now an ex member and those days have now gone. It isn't the same as it was then. People s ll iden fy with each other when it comes to suppor ng their teams or by the way they dress etc. So it is easier to do this.

In the UK, there are CCTV cameras everywhere and banning orders. How do you think it will be in Russia at the World Cup? It will be a bloodbath! At first, the Russian authori es were clamping down and warning known hooligan not to cause trouble but with recent events here in the UK, I believe the authori es may turn a blind eye, I may be wrong though.

Now, you’re a dad, you went to University, got a degree, job (a lecturer at Leicester De Mon ort University).

Are you excited for the next World Cup, and do you talk about it with your students or children?

I am more excited about the World Cup in Qatar! I really want to go to a tournament and enjoy the vibe of the tournament and I cannot wait un l the summer to watch the games as we will see the creme de la creme of footballers from around the world in one place.

Besides that, what are your thoughts on the tournament in Russia?

Photo: Simon Harsent

32

COUNTIRES PEOPLE STORIES

12

RUSSIA Anastasiia Fedorova

URUGUAY Martin Craciun

EGYPT Ganzeer

SAUDI ARABIA Abdullah al-Hudaithi

14

15

A

Anastasiia Fe d o r o v a RUSSIA

There is a place for everything in h i g h f a s h i o n t o d a y, l i t e r a l l y, a n y t h i n g g o e s .

City: St Petersburg Born: 1989 Profession: Writer Support: Other: Art curator As for the beginning, could you introduce yourself to our readers and explain how it happened that you became interested in fashion and culture?

So, I’m a writer, curator and cultural cri c based in London. I am originally from St Petersburg, Russia. I’ve been working in culture media for about 10 years, wri ng about fashion, art, photography and occasionally music. I started this career in Russia and then con nued in the UK a er ge ng my MA in journalism in London. I’ve always been interested in a fashion not so much for its aspira onal quali es or as a product, but more as part of the broader culture. So today I mostly write about fashion where it

meets contemporary visual culture, photography, video, art, subcultural dress codes, class - or even sport. As a curator, I am also interested in fashion and photography as tools for forming the contemporary iden ty.

Once you said: To the fashion world, football is a subculture based on an unknown symbolic system, an untamed exo c other. So in your opinion, why the fashion/streetwear world is trying to understand/use our culture?

On the one hand, fashion is a very self-referen al system: it’s constantly recycling and reworking past looks, past seasons, past decades, it’s own history. On the other hand, fashion is always in need of fresh imagery which comes from the outside. Fashion requires something which would look alien, weird or even ugly at first, but could then be turned into a desirable product. It happened to style tribes and subcultures (like gabber or punk), to day-to-day items like roadworker’s uniform, and sports is yet another area like this. To the most of fashion professionals, sports is something really distant. But at the same me, sports is a huge part of the global fashion industry, if you think of Nike or Adidas. Football has a very recognizable dress code and set of visuals connected to it - so it works really well as a

16

reference taken out of its original context. Also, the rise of streetwear and sportswear in the luxury sector in the recent years means that all kind of sports garments are being reinvented by established labels. However, it’s not limited to appropria on, there are also brands like 424, for which football is a huge part of their DNA and the founder’s heritage and interest.

The UK has a strong casual culture, a tradi on associated with hooligans, and earlier with mods. You could see a football fan or if you prefer hooligan, wearing a Burberry hat. And now you see Gosha Rubchinskiy with Burberry or Adidas collec on inspired by youth culture and the legacy of Bri sh football. What is behind this and how to understand these projects?

To me, this is connected to the broader process of wo r k i n g c l a s s fe s h i za o n i n fa s h i o n . I te m s o e n associated with working class or even impoverished and marginalized lifestyles and backgrounds, like a tracksuit or sweatpants or a certain type of jewelry or hairstyles, par cularly in menswear, o en get co-opted by high fashion these days. It’s a very poli cally complex and controversial trend. I think it’s very interes ng that in 2017 Burberry brought back the notorious beige check cap, associated in the UK with football hooligans, casuals, and chavs and discon nued in 2004 for that reason. The brand is clearly looking for an edgier, more mely and rejuvenated look, and suddenly keen to celebrate these low culture affilia ons. Also, originally reserved for the upper classes, it has been bootlegged so much and in such outrageous ways, that it provided enough subject ma er for a whole photo book (Berberry by Toby Leigh, published by Di o Press in 2 0 1 5 ) . G o s h a R u b c h i s n k i y ’s A d i d a s a n d B u r b e r r y collabora ons are interes ng for a different reason - to me, they reflect the very Russian perspec ve on these brands, working with the way Russian youth in the 90s (and s ll actually) was obsessed with and wore these garments.

The latest trends are football-style scarves, like those made by Anton Belinsky or Volchok, what can we expect next? Do you know any new designers from Russia or the east, that we have to watch in 2018?

Actually, in the last couple of seasons footballinspired garments, like jerseys, scarves, and sneakers, appeared in collec ons by Versace, House of Holland, Vetements, Off-White, Koché and Y/Project - by far not only emerging labels from Eastern Europe. But for me as a Russia person, football scarf is such a part of the visual culture from when I was growing up - alongside black Adidas tracksuits. I really like the way Anton Belinskiy works a football scarf, in his latest collec on he produced some which have tradi onal ornaments from folk Ukrainian tex les. When it comes to interes ng designers to watch, I’d say Bosnian-Austrian designer Ilija Milicic and his label Hvala Ilija, and experimental project Abu Blunt from Moscow.

17

Is there a place for football in high fashion?

There is a place for everything in high fashion today, literally, anything goes. Although have to say, that in work of most of the luxury brands it’s imita on of football rather than football itself.

In your opinion, it is temporary or the fashion world will lose itself in football for longer?

It’s probably a passing trend, but it will certainly leave some traces in fashion design for years to come.

Let’s leave high fashion now, what do you think about the new Russian kits for World Cup? I like the design of the home kit, which directly derives from the classic 1988 USSR equivalent. Despite the Soviet reference, it looks very contemporary, and I like the posi oning of the two-headed eagle on the le side of the chest and Adidas logo on the right- both somehow tokens of Russianness. The kit is completed with white shorts and tricolor socks spelling out Russia over red, which to me evokes the trendy usage of Cyrillic le ers in fashion in the recent years. I think Soviet heritage in the design of sports uniform is a complex issue and is connected with the Cold War no ons of sports achievements - it would be be er if we got over that already. But then, it’s a nice shade of red.

Not crazy about the away shirt white with a pa ern of small grey squares - supposed to look high tech, but not very convincing.

Look far back into the past, do you have some of your favourite Russian kits?

I prefer the ones which are designed using one bold color rather than the whole tricolor of the Russian flag.

The dark red with gold from World Cup 2014 I thought looked interes ng and very dignified. I also liked Russia away shirt from Euro 2004 made by Nike - again, mostly because of color, nice vivid blue.

What do we see when we look at sports kits? We see hopes and aspira ons, history, collec ve memory and current affairs.- by le ng it into fashion runs we will not kill it?

Generally, I think fashion and sports are two huge business enterprises running separately, and as cultural spheres are just too far apart for its true devotees to clash. I think it’s nice if they occasionally influence each other if we remain mindful of the complex poli cs of this intersec on.

Photo: Nat Urazmetova

A

Martin Craciun U R U G U AY

Fo o t b a l l i s m a i n l y a s p o r t w i t h a s h i n y professional sector turned into entertainment.

City: Montevideo Born: 1980 Profession: Art curator, visual artist Support: Other: SOCO Festival founder In a tradi onal way, there are five basic elements of an artwork - line, shape, color, texture, and space. Explain us please, which is responsible for what and in your opinion is the most important?

It is quite common to find a list of those seven elements of art with their descrip on. One can say that the type of a line, whether horizontal, ver cal, diagonal, or curved, would determine the feeling an ar st is trying to express in his work. I also like to think about Euclid defini ons a point is that which has no part or the extremes of a line are points. Wassily Kandinsky extensively reflected on the elements of art in his book from 1926, Point and Line to Plane, it is the straight line

whose tension represents the most concise form of the poten ality for endless movement. One can find conclusions such as ver cal lines are warm, luminous, especially when associated with white and yellow. It turns complicated when conclusions ended up being a recipe, quite common in western socie es and within the main hegemonic art narra ve based on united states-european art. Art prac ces are based as Kandinsky wrote by an internal necessity that impels ar sts to create as a spiritual impulse and audiences to admire art as a spiritual hunger. Kandinsky was deeply concerned about spirituality. How can we use a method to scru nize art and crea on? It is hard to isolate the elements in order to analyze them separately, for me it is fairly meaningless. Context determines more than anything, the utopia of a modern universal culture failed, as a result, we have an infinitum of hybrid cultures. For instance colours mean differently during mourning across countries. For me concepts and ideas are beyond the formal aspects when I approach an artwork. Even though I recognize that is via those formal elements that some mes ar st translate their ideas, I am much concern on these elements as a medium, I like to think about the ability of an artwork to establish a dialogue. As my friend ar st and educator Luis Camnitzer states The Museum is a School, the ar st learns to communicate, the public learns to make

18

19

connec ons. Art as a meaning produc on process and not only as a object crea ng process. I don't deny aesthe c pleasure but my focus is on experience and prac ces that deals with subject and ma er from a diversity of means, languages, methods, forms and technologies.

You've also studied architecture, right? Carlos Paez Vilaro, Eladio Dieste, Alfredo Jones Brown, Elzeario Boix… you have really strong architecture tradi ons in Uruguay. For example, I really like Casapueblo, it's my favorite building in UR. Could you briefly characterize past and present Uruguayan architecture trends?

Yes I studied Architecture. As you men oned Uruguay has a very strong architecture tradi on rooted on modern values. Modern architects such as Julio Vilamajó, Román Fresnedo Siri, Jus no Serralta, Mauricio Cravo o, Carlos Gómez Gavazzo, Carlos Surraco, were responsible for this tradi on and commitment with modernity and local tradi ons. Is interes ng you men on Casa Pueblo a cra ed self build home of a local ar st with many references to white Mediterranean architecture and Balearic dreams, its fabulous loca on facing the ocean make it to perfect summer spot, now turned into a hotel. One of my favorite buildings in the city is the Engineer Faculty designed by Julio Vilamajó. It is mainly concrete with some small elements that generates shadows on its facades. Amazing concrete gray volumes, people are s ll wai ng for the paint. Uruguay was doing fantas c in the period between wars with a huge investment in public buildings and ins tu ons. For example Uruguay built the stadium to host the first football World Cup in 1930, designed by Juan Scasso in concrete to host more than 60,000. It was built just in 6 month.

A er all that prosperity, Uruguayan welfare got dismantled.

Nowadays there are very good architects and good architecture too but it depends on the private sector.

Liberalism and capitalism has made architectural design to be closer to the idea of a commodity.

But you are close also to the music scene, right? You prefer the experimental side of music?

Music has always be my home, the first ar s c language I got in contact (brother, uncle, grandfather, cousin are violin players, my father is a luthier too). I studied guitar, but the electric one, as a teenager I played in hardcore punk bands. I got my first computer when I was 12, since then I´ve been exploring its possibili es with sound. Punk ideas fit perfect for me with computer music, it was a real democra za on of tools, programming and composing without programming knowledge. I was also producing gigs, distribu ng fanzines, casse es and eps. For me was very natural, a er a punk gig in Buenos Aires I discovered techno music, that was when I was 16 or 17, I got fascinated for the freedom of raves, illegal clubs, and how much space for experimen ng one can find on those ecosystems. I studied sound engineer, worked as a stage manager. Later I played in a rock/pop band, it was a big band for Uruguay, I got a close look into the business. So I find myself as a flaneur, dri ing into music prac ces understanding how it work. I got easily bored,

experimental was for me an excellent realm where to put my energy and try to subvert the status quo. I love to have experimental noise concerts at the Opera theatre or to play Steve Reich Piano Phase at an art event. Experimenta on for me is the base of everything, comfortable is boring. I like to move, take risk and so do the art that I like.

You said once: The electronic music scene is giving people a chance to forget everything. We don't need lyrics, we just like to dance. So, can you say that the club/dance scene is the most popular in Uruguay?

No, I don't think club music is the most popular thing in Uruguay but in the last 6 years, it has grown from being marginal, something for insiders, to be considered part of the main cultural ac vi es of the city, clubs, par es, events, broadcast, radio shows. Younger genera ons have adopted club culture as a way of life and have set the market for it.

Uruguay luckily has a very progressive system with an amazing freedom and lack of control. Despite the obvious legal marihuana, one can recognize in the core of our society liberal values that get along perfectly with club culture. I experienced myself with 5 years distance to host events for 200 to think what to do if more than 2000 would come. It's crazy to see events running from Wednesday to Sundays. The electronic music/club scene in Uruguay grew up from very solid and noncommercial basis so I think that has made the difference.

Real music or real people it is said, that has become contagious. People love to celebrate music and experience, there are so many values behind that I think the comparison with other scenes are quite unnecessary.

The most important and popular places for this scene, are probably Phonotheque and Saturno. Can you explain us their meaning to music and Uruguayan scene?

Phonotheque is a club run by DJs, that make the difference, it is a club for the music sake. No VIP, no party ligh ng, no blast of cryo and confe , just a good sound system and a very exigent audience willing to dance un l next noon.

They have created a community, an iden ty and a trademark for the region and the en re club scene. Whilst the club can host up to 300 people the impact has been huge. Saturno, on the other hand, was a project run by two young siblings (Federico and San ago Uribe) during the summer seasons of 2016 and 2017 in a resort city 100km from Montevideo.

Located in a former beach club it was an amazing spot for music lovers not only because of the quality of the sound system but for the musicians and par es they host. Pure passion and love for music.

And how important Montevideo is for this? Can we say that Montevideo is the capital of this movement? Is an inspira on for music?

Montevideo is the capital of a very small country, 1.5 million out of 3.2 live in the capital. Consider that the Greater Buenos Aires is less than 3 hours by boat and has almost a popula on of 14 million. If we consider the amount and quality of DJs, producers, par es, we can assert that something

20

interes ng is happening here with electronic club music now.

This year GAS, MER, SUR, PULSE, and Phonotheque are labels releasing music. There are plenty of collec ves, producers, par es that make the scene quite dynamic. I hope that this movement is not biased by a flourishing market and producers seduced by the commercial side of music. Commercial success is o en in detriment of the ar s c risk.

You created also SOCO Fes val and presented more than 75 interna onal and local ar sts, what it means to you, what was your goal and feedback you got?

Our goal was mainly to put certain topics, languages, ar s c prac ces on Uruguay´s ins tu on agendas. SOCO Fes val intended to collaborate with ins tu ons such as Theaters, Concert Halls, Museums, Contemporary Art Centers, Universi es, Foreign cultural ins tute such as Goethe Ins tut or the French Ins tut, Spanish Cultural Center, to address experimental/advanced/adventurous electronic music. For the past 7 or 8 years, we have been struggling with a precarious funding system, almost no private sponsoring but a huge response from the audience that con nuously par cipate.

SOCO in certain way has given visibility to a group of prac ces that were almost invisible. Fortunately, now there are several collec ves and independent spaces concern about experimental music so in a certain way, we can tell that we have achieved our goal.

Music, visual art, architecture, pain ng… do you find me for football, do you support any team?

No, I don't personally support a team and I´m not very keen on Football, although Uruguay lives and breaths football. It is almost impossible to be on the outside. Football is so present in our society that impregnates everything, all conversa ons, agendas. As a kid, I used to support Peñarol one of the two main teams but I got disinterested. The na onal team and the World Cup is so important here. I am very much concern about the sociopoli cal implica ons of professional Football in our daily life. It´s has become a principal issue for the Government too, I would like art and culture to occupy that space. Back in the days, no far than 10 years ago, a public welfare campaign was leaded by some culturally relevant persona, whether a painter or a musician or a writer, nowadays are just famous football players. Football players have become so popular, so referen al.

I think football can never be called an art. There are very nice examples of an artist working with football as a subject or artworks that reflect on football. But for me, football is mainly a sport with a shiny professional sector turned into entertainment.

Skill, enjoyment, aesthetic pleasure, passion, yes but I don´t think we should consider it as an art form since there are no conscious or unconscious processes that intend to solve problems, or transfer ideas, or reflect on issues that have to do with what we are, we were or what we would like to be.

Photo: Mar n Craciun

21

A

Ganzeer EGYPT

The very notion of being an artist, as far a s I a m c o n c e r n e d , i s b e i n g a n e x p e r i m e n t e r.

City: Cairo Born: 1982 Profession: public art Support: Other: design, comic books

The Egyp an revolu on of 2011, 2012-13 Egyp an protests and 2013 Egyp an coup d’etat… street art and graffi became a big part of that. What’s your opinion about it and how does that affect you, what has changed?

It affected me very deeply. It brought to the forefront of my mind the actually important things in life, and from there it became ever more clear what I'd like to do with my life (quite generally) and my art

prac ce (specifically). I could no longer bring myself to do the branding of a high-end furniture store or the menu design of a fucking chicken wing restaurant.

From that point forward, the vast majority of commercial work, in fact, seemed to me like complete and u er bullshit. And if less and less people got involved in that kind of bullshit and actually worked on the things that ma ered to them - that truly deeply ma ered to them - then perhaps the world would be a much be er place. I mean, it certainly wouldn't solve all the world's problems, but it would be a damn good start. That other thing that I cannot shake away is the realiza on of the power of myth. To a large degree, the coup d'etat was made possible largely due to the myth the Egyp an military has been able to create for itself over the past few decades. In resistance to the coup, revolu onary actors seemed quite focused on communica ng truths, and in so doing exposing the lies fabricated by the military. But in the end, it isn't the truth that ma ered at all, not in the face of a perpetually enforced myth. It seems to me that the only way truth could ever triumph is if propelled by lovingly-sculpted myths.

22

23

What is the situa on with street art in Egypt today and with the mentality of people?

I couldn't say. I haven't been back in Egypt in over four years, so I don't really know. But I am told that most of the street-art is gone, and the overall sense of depression is hard to ignore.

Does an ar st have a chance to be impoli c in a world we live in?

Sure. An ar st can be anything he/she wants to be. But let's be clear: even non-ar sts, any person who has no poli cal opinion whatsoever is very likely a completely selfish asshole with no spine in their body.

But with that in mind, I should stress that being poli cal doesn't necessarily have to entail siding with preestablished poli cal fac ons. In fact, a person with a truly lucid view of today's poli cs is likely to disavow the en re poli cal status quo and everyone involved in it. But that in and of itself is poli cal.

The biggest ambassador of Egypt today is footballer Mohamed Salah. Football, upcoming World Cup in Russia… just like art, it can affect the percep on of people. Do you agree with me, that some mes we ignore or underes mate that?

Sure.

I’m guessing you are not a big fan of University and art studies, but if you have to choose one thing, you can study for example at Alexandria University, what would it be?

Tough one. I'm greedy when it comes to l e a r n i n g ( h e n c e my d i sta ste fo r t h e ex t re m e compartmentaliza on of academia in modern mes), and I like to soak up as much as I can from whatever I can. But if I really had to choose one, it might be architecture.

I find myself being comfortable in a certain medium, with certain tools, I move onto the next thing I know li le to nothing about.

Polish famous ar st - Tomasz Sikorski - said: Graffi is made by kids, street art by teenagers, and mature ar sts are making artworks in public spaces, what do you think about it?

Good statement. I think that what he might be saying is that it's different labels for more or less the same thing. But the different labels are because of the difference in par cipants. Of course, in reality, you have the Graffi Writers who act all snobby around the Street-Ar sts, who in turn ridicule the Public Space Ar sts, who actually look down on everyone else. But hey, it's all connected to the hyper-compartmentaliza on enabled by today's cultural a tudes. I bet you I could combine all 3 approaches in one single work.

Now, you are more a grown and mature ar st.

Have you already found your des ny as an ar st or you are s ll looking for?

Definitely, haven't found it. And definitely not bothered to look.

In the end, what can make you feel sa sfied or fulfilled?

To be able to live a life of crea ng art without fear of imprisonment, exile, or not being able to afford rent. It's surprisingly hard to accomplish, but you know, it shouldn't be. It really shouldn't.

Photo: Ganzeer

So you started with graffi , right? Famous Egyp an ar st, Aya Tarek said: the street was an open gallery for her. For all Egyp an ar sts, it was just experimenta on, the beginning of looking your way of life?

I actually didn't start from graffi . I would say that I started from illustra on, and from there moved onto the graphic design, and from there moved onto contemporary art, and from there moved onto graffi , and here I am now working on comics and also prose fic on. It's s ll all experimenta on for me, but I think it always will be. The very no on of being an ar st, as far as I am concerned, is being an experimenter. As soon as

24

25

A

Abdullah Al Hudaithi SAUDI ARABIA

I think many in Russia this summer will nd the Saudis one of the nicest and well behaved fans.

City: Riyadh Born: 1990 Profession: CPA Support: Al Nassr FC Other: Saudi Arabia football supporter The bonehead ques on at the beginning, why football?

As the case with almost everyone here in the Kingdom, you fall in love with football in your early years. In this country, it's almost a rule. People get a ached to football for no reasons. Just to get along with their friends, cousins or whatever. It is somehow a way of breathing for many young men in the country. It doesn’t have to be for the local league as well. People get a ached to European football very easily. You can find Premier League followers everywhere you go right now. The same thing was with the Italian League in the Nine es.

So you support Al Nassr, but first, let’s talk about the Saudi Premier League. How the league developed over the years?

The Saudi League is a unique one in a strange way.

Because unlike other leagues in the region, i.e.: Qatar and UAE, talent actually exist. So you can say it's not all about the money.

Well, maybe some of it. But what I’m trying to say is that you can watch a lot of talented players over in this league. The problem remains in their a tude and professionalism. It keeps ruining players careers. And I have to say, some clubs with their win at all costs mind set did not help this with them offering crazy contracts to such players with amounts that even some in Europe cannot offer. That has prevented good players in this league from depar ng to Europe throughout all these years.

The current Chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority Turkey Al-Shaikh has done something about this, but I’m not sure it was the right call. He, in fact, has paid for some Spanish clubs to take three of the best Saudi players on loan, having promised he will pay their crazy wages. And they ended up not playing a single minute since January. And that’s very bad for the na onal team’s chances in the summer obviously.

They are really, the best players from Saudi Premier League? Why, do you think they decided to do this? Maybe it was some other reasons.

26

They thought they had some kind of agreement with the La Liga clubs for them to be more ac ve. But I think the managers for the respec ve clubs had other ideas. The whole thing is just a mess. Crazy. Turkey Al Shaikh is a very Controversial personality. You should read about some of the things he’s done. You won’t believe it. One of the most controversial things is to change the manager Van Marwijk that led us to the World Cup over some financial disagreements. Anyway, the people are going to support the team no ma er what. But we are not expec ng much, let's put it this way.

But Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia, right? Are there really so many people interested in it, stadiums are full?

Correct. Stadiums may not be full, but other factors play in this. First of all the weather, second you have to consider infrastructure for most stadiums here. It only got be er recently, and since then, people are coming to the stadium more. And you have the female ban which has been li ed finally this year.

Ultra movements here are strongly banned by authorities. Clubs have the privilege to control and manage their own fan groups, believe it or not.

Yeah, team Al-Ahli makes history as first to allow women to sit in designated family stands. Also the idea to play in derby game (Saudi El Classico) in front of mixed spectators.

How do you think it affects culture?

Frankly speaking, it's just silly. The whole thing I mean. It does not even deserve an argument. Everyone should be able to a end football matches. Full stop. We have finally made the right decision. Now I think Iran remains the only country with a female stadium ban.

27

Talking about fans, what about ultras movement in Saudi Arabia, is it popular? Are you trying to copy or look at Europe (England) fans, the way they support their teams, like chants, banners, fos?

No. Not at all. Ultra movements here are strongly banned by authori es. Clubs have the privilege to control and manage their own fan groups believe it or not. People can get really extreme suppor ng the clubs, but thankfully, there has not been a single incident where violence has been used in our footballing history and I hope that doesn’t change. Fans can be a bit lazy in the stands. They actually have this one guy singing chants the whole game on a megaphone. And people will be with him whenever they feel like it. It’s a bit strange and totally different to what you have in Europe.

So pyrotechnic, banners etc., are banned, right?

Pyrotechnics are completely banned yes. But about banner and fos, as long as they’re organized and controlled by the club- are legal.

Ok, so let's talk now about na onal team, you return to the World Cup a er 12 years. How important for people was promoted to the World Cup to Russia?

Yeah, It was a really unique moment when the referee's whistle ended that game in Jeddah against Japan. You can here thousands of people the whole stadium erupts with absolute joy. We have played four World Cups before, so we are no strangers for the WC. But this one is different. Because it has been a while since the last one.

What do you think Saudi Arabia will bring to this tournament?

Well, let me start in terms of the actual team, I wouldn't expect much. It would be a massive surprise for the team to pass the group stages. Yes it's that bad. I think many in Russia this summer will find the Saudis one of the nicest and well behaved set of fans there is. Saudis generally have such great spirit they will have no issues sharing banter with anyone. Well, if you share it in Arabic! Most of them would not understand a word of any other language. I think especially our game against Egypt will have such a great atmosphere. There's a great bond between the two countries and people have been sharing jokes and banter ever since the draw been made, in a very friendly way of course! In fact, whoever passes the group stages, I know the other will root for un l the end.

Na onal team fans, are they organized and controlled in some way?

No. There are no ultras or groups or organiza on at all. I would expect around 10,000 Saudis traveling to Russia.

But you won't have great numbers of Saudis in the same place a lot, except maybe on Matchday.

Photo: Abdullah Al Hudaithi

Saudis are generally passionate. They love to associate passion with football, that's why a lot of them were supportive of Napoli in their Serie A campaign. They were rooting for Dortmund as well. Teams like that with fans that shows real passion and spirit in supporting their team no matter what. But when it comes to violence, I think most Saudis will be looking to stay away from trouble. That is the general mindset they have.

28

PORTUGAL Luís Barroso

SPAIN Helena Condis

IRAN Pezhman Pars

MOROCCO Hajar Mourid

30

31

B

Luís Barroso PORTUGAL

The ultras are face to face with the police a n d t h e y o f t e n d o n o t h i n g , i f i t w e r e h e r e i n Po r t u g a l none of this would be possible.

We w e r e t r e a t e d w i t h e x t r e m e v i o l e n c e .

City: Guimarães Born: 1980 Profession: Agronomist Engineer Support: Vitória S.C. Other: Capo of White Angels Ultras Group In the beginning, I would like to know your story. How did it happen that you start to support Vitória S.C.?

I live in Portugal in a small town called Guimarães (the birthplace of Portugal), and here is the whole history of my country to which I am very proud. In Guimarães was acclaimed the first king of Portugal (D. Afonso Henriques) since then this culture of conquering prevails rooted in our families and it's transmi ed from genera on to genera on. Like my parents, since I was born I was taught the values of belonging to this city, to defend what is ours and to support the Vitória Sport Clube uncondi onally everywhere. This club is not only a club, it's like a part of our body.

I spent a year in Portugal, living in Coimbra (I know you had some rivalry with Mancha Negra). I saw some games and I have to say, that No Name Boys are the best ultras group in Portugal, a er You and maybe Juventude Leonina, but what is your opinion about it? How’d you rate the ultras in Portugal?

Rivalry we have with all clubs, we always want to be the best in everything. Obviously, there are always more than others. Organized groups have as the main goal to support their club both in defeat and in victory, o en the quan ty does not mean quality, there are groups with fewer elements that make them see those big clubs. At present I have realized that the culture ultra has evolved in a very posi ve aspect, there is a great care not only to support the clubs that earn tles but to support the club's own land (region). What we can conclude is that in my opinion, it is the most important thing is for each one to support their club in the way they think best, that there is always an excellent rela onship and friendship among its members.

You have also ultras groups in lower divisions, like Farense’s SSB. What’s your opinion about groups like them?

Many mes we are wrong to think that only the clubs that are in the first division are the ones with good support groups, it’s totally lying. South Side Boys and others are a good example of this, once again I defend and admire who supports the club of their city and not just supporters of winning clubs.

32

First groups of ultras in Portugal referred to those in Italy. But have you tried to look at England, on the casual culture there, including music and clothing?

The casual movement already exists some me in Portugal, but without great exposi on. In England, they have a different form, each with its culture each with its ideologies and forms of support. Italy is a reference and will always be. I see myself more easily in the Italian mentality.

From the season 2007-2008, you had a lot of legal regula ons. Many groups like the Spor ng and Porto ultras have been forced by their clubs to legalize their organiza ons. That’s when the slogan: Ultras United for Freedom of Fans; Yes to Soccer, not the business was created. Can you tell us a bit more about these changes at that me? What effect it had on ultras groups?

The issue of legaliza on will always be very controversial and will always give you that talk. It will always be a very complicated subject to address. The terms Ultras united by the freedom of fans, yes to football, not to business is no more than a contradic on, at least here in Portugal. Because a group that is not legal, the club itself directly funds these groups at all.

So if they are against the football business should not be helped nor charge absurd prices for travel and merchandising to its elements. It's all very beau ful but everyone likes to wear good shoes or have a good car. The reality is that mes change and we adapt and even shape ourselves a bit to the system or that is the case nor with the props allusive to the team/club can enter the venue (flags, drum, bands, megaphone etc), we are always barred at the entrance by the police forces and whether we want or not all this influences a football game, nothing more beau ful to look at a bench and see the support group with these things visible. Visually enrich the spectacle in the stands and for those who watch it, football becomes more exci ng and creates a real party. It's all a ma er of mentality.

So do you think, that Portuguese police is one of the most strict in Europe?

Undoubtedly, in Portugal, our police do not look at all means, or you collaborate with them or you will have serious problems. From what I see through this world, from field invasions, robberies to other ultras in the benches, the police seems very serene, the ultras are face to face with the police and they li le or nothing o en do, if it were here in Portugal none of this would be possible. We were treated with extreme violence, hence looking at other countries and being incredulous with so much passivity of the police forces.

Let’s talk about White Angels now. You are one of the youngest groups, right? Also, I heard you do not have any friendships. Why do you not have the alliance with anyone or maybe only with Furia Azul?

We do not have any friendships with other groups, except with other groups in our club. Extra club/group each one knows of their life.

So you are now the leader of White Angels, tell me how and why you become the head of the ultras group?

Well, I am not the leader of White Angels, there is the ul mate leader who is the one who dictates the last word. I have

33

been in the group since its forma on, which has been going on for 19 years, growing up as an ultra, gaining trust and respect from all members, as this is a gradual process of learning and maturity. At the moment I am what is known as Capo. I’m the leader of the stadium ultras group.

The most important game for you- SC Braga, right?

Derbi do Minho. Can you tell us some stories from these games?

It cannot be said that this is the most important game, all games are important, it is certain that a derby is always a derby. It's a scorching game full of adrenaline and emo ons.

There have already been some very striking stories, one of which was to move about 3 km on foot without a police escort to the opposing stadium, another was to invade their sector and restore the order causing them to flee to the outside of the bench and many other events. I can say that whenever we go there, we always guarantee a few thousand ultras by showing our strength and race on the stands.

You are known for your fo, which is your favorite and why? What is the feeling of preparing it and how many people are working on it?

I do not have any favorite typhus, they all have their value and meaning, I admit with the passing of the years we are ge ng be er, more perfect, more rigorous, with more responsibility, we no longer want just a typhus, more and more we like challenges which make the next typhus at least equal to or be er than before. Doing a typhus has a lot to do with it, star ng with all the logis cs and organiza on that it takes. It takes a good dozen people to help achieve the final result. Once on the bench, it takes a lot of organiza on and coopera on once again from dozens of ultras so that typhus then runs perfectly.

What do you think, which is currently the biggest problem for supporters in Portugal?

In Portugal there is a very large discrepancy between large clubs and small clubs, it is very easy to support or be a fan of the clubs that win o en.

Let’s talk now about the na onal team. You have The Ultras Portugal, created by uni ng several groups of ultras, but there were a lot of differences between these teams. So in 2003 was created Brigada Lusitana. What is the opinion in the country about these groups?

My opinion is very simple, I have nothing against this union to help our na onal team feel supported and help give them the strength to win games. Unfortunately I do not see myself in this situa on, obviously, I want Portugal to win the World Cup but I don’t see myself joining other groups, like ultra, I just and only support in an effusive way my eternal club that is Vitória S.C. Can we expect Portuguese ultras at the World Cup in Russia?

Yes, of course, many ultras from all over the country and the rest of the world will travel to Russia to express their support for the Portuguese team. I wish that Portugal became world champion, it’s always a great pride to be Portuguese.

Photo: Luís Barroso

B

Helena Condis S PA I N

The soul of Barcelona is a typical afternoon b y t h e A r c d e Tr i o m f a l o n g t h e Pa s s e i g L l u i s C o m p a n y s .

City: Barcelona Profession: Journalist Support: FC Barcelona Other: Cadena COPE/Gol

It’s funny that I spent a week in Barcelona with my girlfriend and then we broke up, but it is the city that became my new love instantly: culture, cuisine, art, a lot of parks, people with dogs and animals, the sea… looks like a perfect place to live. What are your most important memories of Barcelona?

My most important memories of my city Barcelona are Gracia and Born, two bohemian neighborhoods. Also, it’s absolutely magic to visit Sagrada Familia. It has the beach and its nightlife near the sea. Beau ful views from Tibidabo’s mountain. Endless par es, charming squares and a lot of cultures to discover.

Where do you like to spend your free me? Some favorite restaurants or bars with tapa?

I have some favorite restaurants in Barcelona. I’m addicted to Japanese food so I love a restaurant called Parco.

Also you can eat good tapas in Pepa Tomate, LLamber, La Mundana, Sants es Crema. Even in Camp Nou you can find a good restaurant called Tapas.

People o en talk about the soul of the city, in your opinion what it is for Barcelona?

The soul of Barcelona is the people, the streets, the architecture, the ar sts, the museums. The soul of Barcelona is a typical a ernoon by the Arc de Triomf along the Passeig Lluis Companys. Lunch me in Ronda Sant Antoni. Is Tibidabo amusement park, overlooking the whole of Barcelona. Vintage colorful curios for sale in the Plaça Sant Pere. Surfing in December along the Beach, Barceloneta Platja. The night me in Gothic, at the heart of El Born and the medieval Barcelona.

Let’s talk about you. What makes a person choose journalism as a career op on?

I choose journalism because I’m deeply curious about the world. I always have many ques ons about everything and I love to tell what happens to me and in my case in Barça’s football games.

34

35

What were your first steps like and what was the most difficult aspect at the beginning?

My first steps were in a local television and in a radio from my city. First, it was complicated because when I signed on my actual radio Cadena COPE I began as a producer. But step by step with hard work and effort I was growing up since now that I have the big opportunity to follow the day to day of Barça.

In one of the interviews, you men oned that your first match, you have ever seen live was Barcelona – Spor ng at Camp Nou (with your father, brothers and cousins). What did you like the most, and what made you happy that day?

Go to Camp Nou with my family was one of my favorite pleasures since I was a child. My brother was a football player, he played with Andres Iniesta in Barça when he was 14 years old, and I never missed a game of them and I never missed a game of Camp Nou always with my father.

„ A Spanish fan after the match usually listens to the radio.

Can you describe, usually, how the rest of the day, a er the game of a typical Spanish fan looks like?

A Spanish fan a er the match usually listens to the radio. It’s a tradi on that is s ll preserved. Here in Spain, the sports radio programs at night are very famous. They are Par dazo de la Cadena Cope with Juanma Castaño; El Larguero with Manu Carreño or El Transistor with José Ramon de la Morena.

It’s a tradition that is still

What do you think, being a huge fan and support some football team helps or not when you are a sports journalist and you have to be objec ve?

No, I think that a journalist has to be objec ve. I think it’s very important not act influenced by your preferences about a football team. This has to be le aside when you are working as a professional.

at night are very famous.

What aspect or element of journalism gives you the greatest pleasure?

For me, the greatest pleasure is to be live in the retransmissions of the matches, travel around the world, know a lot of fields, and to have the opportunity to interview football players a er the matches.

What it's like to be a woman in a football world, dominated by men?

Nowadays it gives you the feeling that you have to prove more because it is s ll a very masculine world. But personally I have always had the support of my colleagues and I have felt very respected and valued.

preserved. Here in Spain, the sports radio programs

They are Partidazo de la Cadena Cope with Juanma Castaño; El Larguero with Manu Carreño or El Transistor with José Ramon de la Morena.

Photo: Helena Condis

36

37

B

Pe z h m a n Pa r s IRAN

There have been several women dressing up as men and going to the games.

They were hats, fake beard and paint their faces.

City: Shiraz Born: 1983 Profession: Journalist/Podcaster Support: Persepolis FC Other: Part of Golbezan Podcast First, what teams you support in the Iran Pro League and why?

To be honest, I don’t have any favorite team in IPL, but I have a so spot for the Reds Persepolis. They are one of the two major teams in IPL, next to city rivals Esteghlal.

Why did you decide to create a podcast about Iranian football?

We were all interested to discuss Iranian football further than just wri ng, so we started to talk about some games. It has now developed into a high quality podcast with dierent segments, the most prominent one being interviews with major names in Iranian football.

In general, about the role of podcasts in present media. How to compare them with TV or radio or even internet news?

Podcast as a media is becoming really popular, maybe it's due to the fact that the modern human being is always on the run, so it's easy to control the content in your earplugs. Also, I think that people appreciate the quality content, and with podcasts, you usually get super nerdy about something (like Iranian football).

And what the situa on looks like when it comes to media in Iran, if you could say something more about it. I mean the sports media. At what level would you rate them compared to European ones?

It's hard to rate Iranian media with European media in general because even in Europe you have a major diversity, just look at Bri sh tabloids or how Spanish newspapers cheers for Real or Barca depending on where they are published. But in general, daily newspapers s ll make an important part of Iranian sports media, but internet and telegram-channels are advancing. There are also some really big tv shows, Navad/90 being by far the most popular one. It's a weekly football show where they have big named guests and talk about Iranian football. They are not afraid to confront leaders, which is something you don't see in Iran otherwise. That's why the

38

government several mes have tried to shut the program down, but its popularity makes it impossible.

And now, Football looks like the most popular sport in Iran. Why Football defeated other sports disciplines that have a greater and bigger tradi on, like Polo and Wrestling?

Football is the biggest sport in the world. It's easy accessible for everyone, you don’t need anything else than a ball and some players. Nobody can compete with that in the long term. Iran is a football crazy na on.

You have the largest stadiums in the World: Azadi Stadium now have the Capacity: 78 000, but in 2003 it was 100 000. What the situa on with the fans looks like, the stadiums are full?

Unfortunately the only mes Azadi Stadium is full is with the derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal. Then it can be packed a couple of hours before the game and several thousand people wait outside. Some major na onal team games can bring a lot of a endance, as well as Asian Champions League, but in general, the Azadi Stadium isn’t full when Persepolis and Esteghlal play domes c games.

Talking about the fans. In Europe, we have a huge ultras scene, with flares, fo, vocal support, banners. What it looks like in Iran?

It’s not organized in ultras or something like that. In Iran we have played cheerleaders, basically it's men chan ng, using horns and organizing the fans singing and clapping.

Do you have any interes ng stories from the stadiums?

Since it's forbidden for women to enter stadiums in Iran, there have been several women dressing up as men and going to the games. They were hats, fake beard and paint their faces. They were big cloths and blend in well with the fans.

How many people are excited about the World Cup, what will the city look like during the matches of Iran team?

I guess you mean the Russian ci es. There are millions of Iranians living outside of Iran and a lot of them will be heading to Russia. You can be assured that each of the three ci es hos ng Iran will see friendly and social fans, wan ng to interact with other fans. Young or old it doesn’t ma er, it will be a family friendly atmosphere when the Iranians are in Russia. People all know that the first game against Morocco is do or die, but they are almost scared of Portugal and Spain. So a lot of people just hope that Iran doesn’t get embarrassed.

One funny note, one of Iran's biggest singers ever, called Ebi, will be having a concert in St Petersburg on 15 June, one day before Iran - Morocco. Smart move, he knows it will be plenty of Iranians there.

Iran Pro League has recently developed, right? You have more players go to playing for European clubs than before the last World Cup. Well, that’s two different ques ons. The league

39

haven’t developed, it’s s ll the same (weak) league that we have had in the past years. Sure we have go en some decent coaches such as Branko Ivankovic and Winfried Schäfer, but the problem is the lack of organiza on, the professionalism that you can see in every aspect of Iranian football, from so called grassroots all the way up to the federa on. So no, the IPL is not good. But more players understand the value of playing in Europe, it increases their chances to play in the na onal team. It’s a big step for many of them, being a big star in Iran were people think you are a good, then all the sudden play in a small team in Belgium or something. The mental game is important.

So, can we expect a lot of players from Iran in Europe for some me?

Hopefully, Iran doesn’t lack talent but the step leaving Iran is too difficult for many of them. Also, it’s not unusual that players come from poor condi ons, so maybe they prefer the big money instead of developing in Europe. It’s something that has started to change last years, a lot of got to do with the face that Queiroz more or less demands his players to play in Europe.

Fifa U-17 World Cup 2017 – Quarter-finals. Fifa U-20 World Cup 2017 – Group stage. What has changed suddenly in the training of young teams and you have such good players like Reza Shekari?

Iran doesn’t lack raw talent, it lacks proper football educa on, good facili es, and organiza on. Being good at the age of 17 doesn’t mean much if you can’t handle all the things that come with professional football.

Carlos Queiroz, how important is he for the Iranian football?

He has created a team out of a country filled with individuals. His me in Iran has been important in how Iranians see its football. The na onal team is a hardworking, solid team.

He has contributed to a lot of Iranians moving to Europe, and they are doing really good. Iran is now a disciplined and well organized team that teams have a hard me playing against.

We will see that in the World Cup.

Photo: Pezhman Pars

B

Hajar Mourid MOROCCO

There is no one, who has no challenge in his life.

City: Casablanca Profession: Social Media Support: Wydad Casablanca Other: Supporter Wydad Casablanca

As a part of Moroccan youth, how would you characterize your genera on?

I’m one of the youths of Morocco and the genera on is very sophis cated and ambi on. Work hard to reach the desired.

What do you think about the previous genera on?

You care about tradi on or rather you want to show your own style?

It’s hard to say. You know what I mean. I prefer the present genera on. Of course, I respect my tradi on but I love to show off my own style.

What are the biggest challenges you face everyday?

There is no one, who has no challenge in his life.

Every day I face the toughest challenges. There is no life without challenge. The most difficult challenges, I face with people retarded. I have also a challenge for myself to complete my happy day and not worry about anything.

What your typical day looks like?

Fabulous.

What is currently the most popular among young people in Morocco? Football, Fashion, Social Media ac vity?

For sure Football.

You are a huge fan of Wydad Casablanca, right? Why, how did this happen?

I’m a fan of Wydad un l I die and since my childhood, it is the love of my ancestors. When I support my team I feel unspeakable. Happy. I love that huge crowd of the masses. And I love ultras winners.

Are there many women suppor ng in Morocco?

Yes, of course! You can find a lot of women at a stadium in Morocco.

40

41

Do you have any interes ng stories from the stadium, Stade Mohamed V? I have a lot of interes ng stories with a Republican.

And follow my team wherever it goes to encourage and help them, a team without an audience makes no sense . Each match is an adventure for me. The games that i enjoyed the most were Wydad Casablanca - Al Ahly (1-1 / 1-0), the finals of the African Champions League, which took place at the Stade Mohammed V, we won the tle the second me in the history, against a great team (they won ACL eight mes). The game I cried a lot was Zamalek SC- Wydad Casablanca, semi-final, 4-0, I was very sad. All the fans were sad and feel bi erness.

What football and Wydad Casablanca mean to you?

For me I love football and Wydad is my life love as much as anybody and anything.

You also watched live the games of the na onal team of Morocco, right? How these matches differ from those of Wydad Casablanca?

I don’t see any difference, I love both.

Do you have ultras groups in Morocco? What do you think about them and which one is the biggest one?

Sports fan groups known for their loyalty and loyalty to their teams are more present among sports fans in Europe, South America and recently in North African countries. The first ultras group was established in 1940 in Brazil and was known as Torcida. The phenomenon then moved to Europe and specifically to Yugoslavia and then to Croa a, namely the Hajduk Split, which was the first to introduce the genre. These groups tend to use pyro or shaman as they are called in North African countries, singing and chan ng to support their teams and direc ng messages to players.

A word about Wydad fans: they are the sons and grandsons of the Wadadin religion Kano struggling for the sake of God on the country, and figh ng against the Franciscans religion. Kano colonists of Morocco and fans of Wydad were to fight the French occupier. It was decided to set up these ultras groups by young people who encourage Wydad, who are mostly youth from the city of Casablanca. From the summer of 2005 un l the month of November was decided to take the name of winners, i mean the Winners as the name of the group and also took Lugo Fedaye as an expression of the Fedaye Wydad.

The religion Kano prac ced in the Wydad team is Lugo grasping the idea of a Pales nian commando man. The group was founded in the summer of 2005 but was formally established on Sunday, 13th November 2005: the occasional mee ng in the tournament against the SLA Associa on. Then the year of its founding, and thanks to its hard work in achieving the wonderful performance without charge of any reliance on itself and the thoughtness of its members, and was the first crowned by her fame as a shirt and Winners also recorded a music CD without instrumental because it was the beginning.

They were present at all the matches held in Morocco, and even some abroad games, and ‚the Winners’ became an integral part of the clubunlike some coaches, players or managers, who come and go. Wydad is a word of love that they speak about and what they defend; Wydad is an honor we need. The Winners live passion to Wydad. The slogan of the group was born from this passion: Together Forever.

Photo: Hajar Mourid

42

FRANCE Jack Whelan

PERU Víctor Zaferson

DENMARK Signe Vadgaard

AUSTRALIA Chad Gibson

44

45

C

Jack Whelan FRANCE

These days football is in the fashion limelight, so everyone now has a football shirt or scarf on at almost all times.

City: Isle of Wight/Paris Born: 1988 Profession: Author/Editor Support: Red Star FC Other: Le Ballon FC Creator You are born in England, raised in Switzerland but now living in Paris. So, at the beginning why did you choose the capital of France as a place to live?

I actually came here to help my brother and associates with the idea for the Le Ballon bar for the World Cup in 2014- I was actually le Canada to come and do it! He had a bar that was si ng empty because of noise complaints from the neighbors and police! We had the idea to create a tonguein-cheek football bar for lovers and non-lovers of the beau ful game.

Do you think Paris is World’s Fashion Capital?

It’ hard to say that Paris is the defini ve capital, but it’s up there. London might have something to say about being the number 1. Tokyo as well, for that ma er! However, I think when it comes to haute couture, and the importance of the fashion weeks, Paris probably has the edge. It is a city that seems to ooze style and fashion, in a way that I have not seen elsewhere.

Trying to be part of this fashion/art world, you opened an art gallery in Paris, in Le Coeur gallery. Was it just an idea for Euro and a er you le it, what is the story behind this gallery?

Le Cœur is a pop-up gallery space in the heart of Le Marais. A er the World Cup in 2014, we reserved the space for the month surrounding the EUROs in 2016. We didn’t know what we were going to do, or why we wanted it, but we knew that it was worth trying to do some sort of event space while the tournament was on home soil. We had space for a couple of days before the EUROs started, and closed the doors the day a er the final. It was a wild and exhaus ng few weeks, but we’re proud to have done something that was great fun, and completely unseen anywhere else in the world.

46

You had many graphics and works of recognized ar sts from around the world. Can you tell us your top 5 around football culture ar sts from France? Designers, painters, graphics…

Top 5 culture ar sts from around football? That’s quite tough! Luckily a er our gallery, quite a few ar sts can now be considered around football as they created football art for us! Some interes ng people to look out for: - Jean André - ARTUS - Nam Kunn (Bled FC) - Soccer Pa ern - Alexandre Silberstein You also ran a bar. What made you more happy/sa sfied, art-gallery or bar?

Very hard to say! The bar was probably more fun, and I probably have greater memories from it as we were just drinking and watching football with our mates in a place that was brilliantly cool. However, the gallery was more ambi ous, more impac ul, was unlike anything ever seen before and probably told ‘our’ story a li le bit more than the bar. Both were excellent, but I think the bar made me happier and the gallery more sa sfied!

Do you have some stories from the bar for us?

One of the favorites was the en re bar shou ng ATTENTION A LA MOUSSE, every me the ref got the vanishing spray out for free kicks. It was a joke based on a French meme.

It got turned into a song by a couple of our regulars and I think the rights to it got bought by Warner or something. Otherwise, the trio of Argen nian girls that changed their return flights to Buenos Aires so that they could stay and watch Argen na in the final with us. That was proof to us that we had done good work!

You said once: It’s s ll not that cool to like football in Paris. What did you mean by that?

Bear in mind that I said that some me ago! Football has been thrust into a new light since we first started. Football had a bad rap in Paris. It was seen as uncool to wear your football shirts etc. around town. It was seen as aggressive, uncouth and chavish. However, these days football is in the fashion limelight, so everyone now has a football shirt or scarf on at almost all mes. I don’t know if that means football is uncool again, albeit for completely different reasons!

So you started the league. What was the most difficult at the beginning?

The organiza on is the hardest part. Making sure that you have 120 people present, every week, for the en re season. Keeping on top of the admin while also trying to ensure that it stays interes ng, original and exci ng.

A er three seasons, do you have your hall of fame?

The best players who have played so far? Or maybe famous for the artwork they did.

47

We don’t have a hall of fame per se, but we have had awards for all of the seasons. The top-scorers, Ballon d’Or etc.

We also have the works of art that were created before matches (especially during season 1) or indeed the football kit designs (season 2) and the crest designs for each season.

During the upcoming World Cup, you are going to open a new bar, art-gallery, maybe shop, right?

We are doing a pop-up-store at Citadium, an enormous department store in the center of Paris, next-door to the famous Galeries Lafaye e. There will be shirt customiza on, a whole new collec on of clothing as well as our capsule collec ons with DYNE (Portland, USA) and Patrick Labo (Tokyo, Japan). We will have some li le bits and pieces from our archives as well - vinyls, video games, magazines, books etc. We are working at doing a bar, but it might just be a li le bit too late.

Have you seen the official poster, promo ng the World Cup in Russia? What do you think about it? Do you have some favorite posters from the past?

I have, and I like it. As a goalkeeper, seeing Yashin is always a pleasure. Beyond that, the 20s/30s style is really appealing to me. Post-Construc vism became one of Russia’s key ar s c exports, so seeing it exploited here with the green pitch and energe c rays coming from the football/globe is pre y interes ng. It is a real change on most of the posters, so yeah, I’m a fan. Old favorites: Brazil 50, Spain 82, Korea/Japan 02, South Africa 10.

To be crea ve, what does it mean?

To be crea ve is simply to create, as far as I am concerned. It does not have to be totally original thought, it doesn’t have to be unique. It can take something and build upon it, it can be a joke, an insult, a work of art or a through a pass. I think the most important thing when it comes to being crea ve is to let your personality show. Think outside the box, think differently and crea on will be a by-product. This is by far the hardest ques on I’ve had to answer in a football interview!

Photo: Jack Whelan

C

Víctor Zaferson PERU

The rst thing is: p l a y e r s h a v e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e s t y l e o f p l a y.

City: Lima Born: 1978 Profession: Journalist/Scout Support: Alianza Lima Other: Ex Bayer Leverkusen Scout In your opinion, you are more a journalist or scout?

I think I'm both. But in the last years, I feel more scout. I analyze all the details.

You said that you can be both. But some mes, does not it bother to be an objec ve journalist?

Yes, I said that. But I think they have things in common. I analyse all angles of the players. I'm basically a database football scout.

As a journalist, you look at players slightly differently than as a scout?

As journalist, I write football news but as scout, I analyze everything: the 22 players on the pitch.

What is the first thing you pay a en on to when you are observing and analyzing the player?

The first thing is: players have to understand the style of play. They have to know when they have to run and then when they have to stop with and without the ball. First thing is to think and second, is run or stop. It depends on the mentality and how they were worked at youth training system.

You worked for Bayer 04 for four years. You sent them informa on, for example about Jefferson Farfán and Paolo Guerrero. What at that me drew your a en on the most in their game, how they stood out?

They're world class players. They are very smart to play. They can play as strikers and a acking midfielders. With and without the ball they're also really effec ve. When I watched them I thought:They will play in Europe at a high level.

You support Alianza Lima, the most poular club in Peru. So you should remember when Paolo Guerrero, Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan played there, do you remember any stories related to them then?

48

49

Paolo Guerrero (1984) and Jefferson Farfan (1984) played together in Alianza Lima when they were Under 18.

They were the figures, but Guerrero le this club at the age of 18 and signed for Germany's Bayern Munich and only Farfan won the tle with Alianza (2003). They are key players un l now in Peru. Pizarro signed for Alianza in 1998 and in 1999 he signed for Germany's Werder Bremen. He was not champion, but Alianza Lima's fans love him. Pizarro scored five goals against Union Minas at Peruvian tournament in 1999 and then a German football scout recommended him to Bremen that year.

Speaking about Alianza Lima, I have to ask about the plane crash in ’87. Can you tell us a bit more about it and what happened a er that in the country?

That was terrible. I was 9 years old. Alianza really lost everything. All players died. The pilot was the responsible of that tragedy (aircra black box revealed). He was not an expert. And then Alianza suffered a lot to rebuild the first team.

And also Peru Na onal Team lived the same. Peru didn't qualify to 1990 World Cup in Italy. That was a very poor campaign (4 matches, 0 points, 2 goals). Alianza won the tle in 1997 a er 19 years without trophies. And yes, Chile's Colo Colo helped Alianza with four young players: Jose Letelier (goalkeeper), Parko Quiroz (centre back), Francisco Huerta (midfielder) and Rene Pinto (forward). S ll, there's an excellent rela onship between those clubs.

Do you know any player in Peru who you thought was a great talent but failed?

Reimond Manco (1990), former PSV striker. He plays in Peru's Union Comercio. I think he s ll can play at high level. It depends of him.

Right now, the biggest thing for people in Peru is probably the promo on to the World Cup in Russia a er all these years, how it was celebrated in the country?

That was a dream come true a er 36 years. Yes, Peruvian people are very confident and want to see Peru playing in the second round. That would be amazing really.

Alianza Lima has Comando Svr group, but how it looks like with na onal team? Any organized group is going to Russia?

Yes, the most important clubs in Peru have a very organized group of fans. Comando Svr belongs to Alianza Lima and Trinchera Norte to Universitario. There are some groups of Peruvian fans who will go to Russia. La Blanquirroja is the most important, but it's an independent group. Don't receive the support from Peruvian FA. Thousands of Peruvians will go to Russia and I think they will cry when singing the anthem there a er 36 years.

As a host of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2019, how this tournament is perceived by the people in Peru?

Actually, Peru wants to show the new Under 20 players next year. There's a very important genera on of new talented players. Sixteen footballers will go to Russia as sparrings. And yes, scouts and agents always watch youth tournaments because always appear new players to analyze.

At senior World Cups some mes is too late.

Photo: Víctor Zaferson

What do you think is the most common reason that young players in Peru do not achieve success?

Here in Peru, there are very good players, but they need to change the mentality. Also, Peruvian League is not compe ve and youth training system is very poor.

World Cups, do you think, they are the best place for scouts to watch players, or it’s wrong to rate players only a er a big tournament?

I think the best places are youth tournaments. All the me I update databases with only Under 20 players with two or three passports. That's a key factor.

Do you have some players for the upcoming World Cup you want to look at?

I have three: crea ve midfielder Chris an Cueva (1991), from Brazil's Sao Paulo, box to box midfielder Renato Tapia (1995), from Netherland's Feyenoord, and Yoshimar Yotun (1990), who plays at USA's Orlando City.

Youth training system in Peru, what does it look like?

Really these are very poor. Peru needs more players with high quality and companies here have to invest more money urgently. That's not happening. A good campaign of Peru in Russia can be the first step.

50

51

C

Signe Va d g a a r d DENMARK

I’ve learned that mistakes are a part o f w h a t m a k e s y o u b e t t e r.

A n d t h a t y o u s h o u l d n’ t b e s o afraid of making them.

City: Copenhagen Born: 1985 Profession: Journalist/TV Host Support: Odense Boldklub Other: Europe League Final 2017 Pyeongchang 2018 As a teenager, you played football right? Can you tell us a bit more about it?

I started playing football at a very early age. I might only have been 2 or 3 years old. My brother just star ng kicking a ball at me in our parents garden, and I was hooked. At the age of 5 I started in my first club, OKS, which is a boys only club - but that didn’t ma er much back then, we were just kids. But I think playing with boys, in the beginning, made me be er. When I hit puberty I changed club to play with other girls, and I got

pre y good, playing the na onal youth team a few years. I never made a career of it, though.

And a er, at some point, you decided to leave your studies? What decided about it?

I was studying media science at university and had go en into radio, and I was lucky enough to land a steady gig as a morning host at the local radio sta on.

The combina on of very early and long hours and a full me study wasn’t successful, so I decided to drop out and instead focus on the job. In hindsight, I’m glad I did.

In one of the interviews, you said that you are happy with this decision, but you know that it was not reasonable. What do you think, how to find the strength to make risky decisions?

It’s a gut feeling, really. And I think you have to trust your gut more than your brain, a lot of the me. I had a feeling that I could make a career in radio/TV, and I had to go with that feeling. I absolutely loved my job at the radio. There’s, of course, a risk that it hadn’t worked

52

out, but I figured it wouldn’t be the end of the world. I’m pre y carefree that way, and usually, I land on my feet.

What fascinated you most about this work at the beginning? Any interes ng stories/situa ons?

Broadcast, whether it’s TV, radio or any other medium, has the power to cap vate the audience, if the stories are well told. I loved speaking to an audience just waking up in the morning, providing a soundtrack to their daily rou nes. And with my love of music, ge ng to make people happy and provide them with a good start to their day was a real pleasure.

Pyeongchang, EURO U-21 in Poland, you worked on many tournaments. Which one of them you remember best and did you have some funny stories/situa ons?

I remember the Europa League final from last season really well. Manchester United- Ajax. We had the studio set-up at the stadium in Stockholm, Sweden- and we had Brian Laudrup as part of our team. On the pitch, the Danish upcoming player Kasper Dolberg had just had a massive season at Ajax, and the opponents from Manchester is just a huge club, and one I had been following for many years. Zlatan was injured, but s ll came onto the pitch and received the love from his home country. Wayne Rooney’s last big appearance for United, so many stories to tell, even though the final itself wasn’t the most spectacular game.

The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang made a huge impression on me because it is so far from our own culture. So apart from the gigan c spor ng event that the Olympics is, just being there in Korea was a massive experience. I remember that K-Pop was a huge part of the ceremonies, that was quite funny to see how the crowd went wild for pop stars on the stage. I also learned that a few hours drive from Pyeongchang, there is a park that is filled with penises. I’m serious. A penis park.

Statues and monuments formed as the male reproduc ve organ. If you don’t believe me, google it.

Regarding the varying spor ng events, we in Denmark are a very small winter-na on, so we celebrated a Speed Ska ng 5th place as a win. You guys are much be er than we are here at winter sports, and you are also very good at football, we learned that firsthand in the World Cup Qualifica on. Luckily we also advanced to the Russia WC 2018 - that is going to be massive. Good luck to you guys, my guess is you’re going to do very well.

53

The most important thing you've learned since then?

I’ve learned that mistakes are a part of what makes you be er. And that you shouldn’t be so afraid of making them.

How you spend your me a er work, a er the match is over?

When a match is over, I usually drive home to my apartment in Copenhagen and watch a TV show or a movie, just to calm down. The adrenaline is usually pumping around in my body a er a broadcast. The drive from the match to home can be pre y long as our studios surrounding the matches in the Danish Superliga are always on site, so I drive around the country a lot.

Listening to a good playlist or the radio when driving home also helps me relax.

Your favorite playlist, music to chill?

Right now I’m listening to Janelle Monae’s new album Dirty Computer. It is so so good. I have it on constant replay. And for a long drive home from work, I also listen to the Spo fy playlist Funk & Soul Classics.

Good vibes all around the car!

I saw your birthday gi , your Odense Boldklub shirt. So, I’m guessing you support them. If so, what are the reasons?

I played in Odense Boldklub when I was younger. That was the club where I enjoyed most of my me as a player and the first club where I wasn’t playing with boys. So I’ve been on the training ground and at the stadium for many years, which is why it holds a special place in my heart.

The most important ques on, best city or place in Denmark to try food from Pølsevogn?

Haha, fantas c ques on! There are quite a few good ones in Copenhagen. Try the one in front of the Railway Sta on (Hovedbanegården). If you ever visit Odense, try Gågadens Pølsevogn. And remember to order it med det hele (with everything!).

Photo: Signe Vadgaard

C

Chad Gibson AUSTRALIA

M a n , Ve g e m i t e o n t o a s t w i t h b u t t e r is the bomb - but we are cultured now so, avocado on toast.

That’s what the Aussies do.

City: Sydney Born: 1976 Profession: Ex-professional footballer Support: Local FC Other: Local FC founder Your first thoughts, when you think about the pitch on Rudd Park? There is a lot of places and parks like this?

Home, I grew up on the street behind the pitch. I was virtually born there. My dad ended up playing over 40 years there and my brother and I played there as well. I spent every a ernoon there as a kid hi ng the crossbar with my brother (John: ex professional and now PERTH GLORY Youth Coach.) I kicked a ball against wall everyday hi ng the same green door that’s s ll there. It’s where I fell in love with the game. It understood my fears and dreams, a place I knew every blade of grass on. In Aus, we are very blessed to have so many parks and open spaces to play, not to men on our weather, so I think a lot

of kids have experiences like mine. We’re lucky to have so much nature embedded into our ci es here.

And how do you remember your childhood? Were you a real ratbag?

Football, Football, Football. I always played star ng at 3.5 years old for Belmore. I spent everyday at Rudd Park kicking a ball. Saturdays I would play at 8 am, my brother at midday and Dad at 3, all for Belmore, so we spent the whole day there. I would hear the whistles and nets going up early on a Sat morning and later I’d hear cheers and screams in the a ernoon. From 12 I was already training 5 nights a week, so maybe my friends got up to things but I always had football.

Likewise, with school, I didn’t go to the best High School, but people knew me and my football, so they looked a er me.

Made sure nothing messed with that. So truth is, I was too dedicated to my football to have me to be a ratbag.

Australia - Netherlands, qualifica ons for the 92 Barcelona Olympics and Ned Zelic goal - Your most important memory related to Australian soccer?

Ye, definitely for me that was a moment I will always remember. My brother was in the squad and did not play in the

54

55

first leg in Sydney. I stayed up with my dad ll 3 am for the game and my brother was in the star ng 11. I was so proud to be his lil’ bro and for him to be part of such an iconic game was amazing. When he landed in Sydney he came straight to my High School and gave me his jersey. THAT JERSEY! That’s why I love that jersey so much and it is just so cool as well. So more than just what Australia accomplished, that was personal for me.

„ We just need to build [australian soccer] for the people that care first then the other will follow.

As Cantona said: When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

When I think about Australia and how my childhood could look like, it would be Vegemite on Toast, every morning.

But s ll, I’d have Rugby, Australian football or Cricket ball.

What could possibly made me chose soccer? By the way I guess you love Vegemite too.

Man, Vegemite on toast with bu er is the bomb- but we are cultured now so, avocado on toast. That’s what the Aussies do. But these days I just have a croissant and coffee. Ye, it’s something we face as a footballing na on, having so many sports and football not being the main code (although it has the highest number of registered players of all codes). I always played football, for a few years I played, cricket, baseball, and basketball in the off-season. But at 12 I felt like I had to make a choice, I didn’t have me for anything else so chose football.

My Dad played professionally in South Africa and was brought out here by a football club at 19, bringing my Mum with him, as at that me, during Apartheid, they couldn’t be together. So really, football gave me my life. Our family is indebted to football. Then, of course, my brother was a pro as well. Even as far as my mother’s father was very influen al in colored football in Durban - it was actually football that allowed my mum’s brothers to play with my dad which lead to their love story. I didn’t choose football; football chose me.

You have embraced lower league in Australia, what can you say about them? There is the last place to find the soul of the game? How it looks like in Australia, what club do you support?

More and more football is a business. The higher you get, the more that’s apparent. Obviously, I s ll have a lot to do with the upper echelons of football, at the club and interna onal level, but over the past few years, even during my travels to Paris and London, I actually really like going to the lower leagues because I find the soul is s ll there like you say.

Guys figh ng to get out, fans that just want to be there. I grew up on football like that, si ng on a hill, old European guys chewing pumpkin seeds and spi ng the shells out at your feet.

I played for a lot of these clubs. Going back to these grounds and watching these teams reminds me why I love football again. And of course, their steak sandwiches and the food is so much be er than at the stadiums. These clubs are o en associated with specific migrant communi es, so going to different grounds you get different cuisines and it’s the best. I don’t really support one club, but my best friend, Juan Carlos Chavez (AKA the Australian Romario, AKA the best name in Australian football), plays in the lower leagues so when I can I make sure I go and support my boi.

56

A er your soccer career, you started Local FC. Can you explain us the idea behind this project and your mo va ons?

When I finished playing professionally for over 12 years, in the end, I completely fell out of love with football. I could almost say I hated it. I took a year sabba cal from the game. I didn’t have anything to do with it, I wouldn’t watch it on TV, I wouldn’t go to games, I didn’t kick a ball. I started playing a pickup game and realized it wasn’t my job anymore and I could actually just do it for fun. I was working through my transi on of being a professional footballer and came to realize that people weren’t looking at football the way that I had always looked at it. I had some opportuni es to create a program for all of the A-League players about transi on a er football and finding your passions beyond the game. I always felt when I played I had to hide who I was because I had interests outside of the game which wasn’t part of the football landscape at the me. I met my partner who believed in me and was part of a crea ve world I hadn’t been connected to. In 2012 no one was doing football and culture or showcasing the game the way I saw it, so I started LOCAL FC, said I would be completely me - passionate, emo onal and honest. I wanted players not to fall out of love with football the way I had and I wanted fans to understand what footballers actually go through. My partner taught me how to use a camera and the rest is LOCAL FC. It all just came together and has grown into something I’m really proud of.

You said once: I wanted to make a bigger difference than when I played professionally. Please choose one thing you are the proudest so far.

It’s hard to put it down to one thing. If I were proudest of one thing it would be being a dad to Ti . But in football terms, I’m proud of my rela onship with the players. It means more than they know that they trust me, they’re genuine fans of LOCAL FC, they see it’s authen city and believe in it. These players actually build rela onships with me because of LOCAL FC. 99% of what I speak about with them doesn’t make it to LOCAL FC and that goes to show the trust that we’ve established. To walk in Paris, London, and Tokyo and hear Hey you’re LOCAL FC, it blows me away to have created something that resonates with interna onal audiences and to has created an interna onal interest in Australian football too.

I’m proud that I’ve created a pla orm that the players trust to represent them and tell their stories in a way that others don’t or can’t. Also, I recently collaborated with Nike to create a tournament in Western Sydney where I grew up- it was special for me to be able to create that and give that football community a voice, especially with a giant like Nike. It meant a lot to the local players out there. I’ll never forget one of the finalists on the night said that it was so amazing to be out there playing in a tournament with LOCAL FC and Nike the same way that they did in the refugee camps in Africa where they grew up.

57

Nothing is as important as passion, so what drives your passion?

As I said before, the way that football chose me, I didn’t choose football, that’s what drives me. I feel like LOCAL FC has a bigger purpose in the game that just my choice to play professionally, so I’m passionate about following that.

Last year, a man with a huge passion - Les Murray (SBS football commentator) died. You grew up with his voice.

He was for you as an authority, an idol? How do you remember him?

Les and Johnny Warren were m Sunday mornings. It was a different me, you couldn’t just go on your phone and get everything in an instant. I had to wait un l Sunday morning for a one hour highlights shows followed by one hour of Serie A. They were the voices of Australian football and of my childhood. I had the privilege of mee ng them numerous mes and now with both of their passing, I feel an even greater responsibility for LOCAL FC to be part of a new voice of Australian football.

What do you think, soccer can be more popular in Australia than rugby?

First off, it’s football. Something I’ve said for a long me now, football in Australian should stop compe ng with the other codes. As Australians, we grow up watching and playing a lot of sports. But for me, football has to worry about where it sits in global football, not against AFL and rugby. I grew up watching rugby league at a stadium down the road from me. I think Australian football at the moment is caught up with trying to poach fans rather than looking a er the true fans. I don’t think we need to be the biggest in order to be successful.

But like I said before, we do have the highest number of registered players, our women will go to the World Cup with the ambi on of actually winning. Football is on the up. We just need to build it for the people that care first then the other will follow. As Cantona said: When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

What can soccer learn from rugby or Australian rules football?

As I said before I think we make the mistake of trying to compete instead of trying to learn. Take AFL for example (Australian Rules), they’re an amazingly run machine. Their finance, their marke ng, their structure, everything they do, they’ve just gone light-years ahead of everyone else. I think on and off the pitch, we can definitely learn a lot from AFL as a code as well as from the mistakes football itself has made in the past. And we keep repea ng them. I think the business aspect of AFL is most impressive and has created a situa on where young players can play for free, and I think that’s a worthwhile ambi on for football. Football in Australia has become ridiculously expensive to play, no longer a game of the people.

What are your next plans for Local FC? A special World Cup collab is about to be announced, a website relaunch heaps more content with players and in depth interviews. From now you’ll see a real focus on our storytelling and definitely more merch drops that people have been asking for! But a er the World Cup there will be a muchneeded break for LOCAL FC! In the end, the best place in Sydney to chill (for example to make a Barbie and drink Stubby)?

Definitely whiskey on my porch with a barbie, plenty of asado. Start off the night with some natural red wine. But when the sun’s out, you can’t go past our beaches, there are always more to explore (and we have sand, not pebbles, so we can actually lie on the beach, I was recently in Brighton and took this for granted!).

„ My Dad played professionally in South Africa and was

Photo: Chad Gibson

brought out here by a football club at 19, bringing my Mum with him, as at that time, during Apartheid, they couldn’t be together.

So really, football gave me my life.

Our family is indebted to football.

58

ARGENTINA Peter Coates

CROATIA Miroslav Å uvak

ICELAND Hannes Thor Arason

NIGERIA Ufuoma Egbamuno

60

61

D

Pe t e r Coates ARGENTINA

Going to the stadium is treated like a party as much as it is just watching a game and that extends to getting people or family over for an asado.

City: Reading/Buenos Aires Born: 1983 Profession: Journalist Support: Independiente Other: Golazo Argentino Editor in Chief In 2011 you moved to Argen na. In your opinion, why do people move and in your case, what were your reasons?

Buenos Aires’ European vibe in the heart of South America is always going to a ract people from around the world but while I can’t speak for anyone else, in my case it was a fairly simple decision. I was an English teacher and hadn’t traveled to this part of the world so when weighing up the op ons of where to look for work, a city that lives and breathes football in the way that Buenos Aires does made it all clear.

What is it like living in Argen na as a foreigner? Do you remember your first day, did you have some funny situa ons?

While li le things like traffic, infla on and nonexistent organiza on can be a drag, living in Buenos Aires is on the whole great. The people are friendly, there is plenty to do and if you have an opinion on football, a conversa on is never far away. My first day was spent simply wandering around the city taking it all in, I immediately wanted to get to a game so on that first weekend, I walked to La Boca to try and get a cket.

With my almost zero Spanish I managed to find a guy on the street and nego ate some kind of deal (this isn’t advised to those visi ng). Whether or not it was legit or not, I got into La Bombonera, up high in the away end with the Godoy Cruz fans.

Watching La Doce at the other end was incredible but with Godoy Cruz securing a famous away win, the real party was where I was. Ge ng home late from La Boca at night when everyone else was ge ng on buses to get back to Mendoza was a li le unnerving but a memorable welcome to Argen ne football.

What do you like most in Argen ne culture? And living in Buenos Aires, what gives you the greatest pleasure?

62

Football obviously, but with that the social side of life. Going to the stadium is treated like a party as much as it is just watching a game and that extends to ge ng people or family over for an asado (bbq).

Let's talk about football now. Can you imagine what would happen if Argen na did not get the promo on to the World Cup in Russia? It was so close.

I’d rather not! Despite playing dreadfully for almost the en re qualifying period, I don’t think the possibility of not going to Russia really hit home un l Argen na needed to go to Ecuador and get a result. Thankfully for Messi, we don’t need to think about that, but I can only imagine the reac on if the country had watched the team fail to qualify.

For a lot of people (for example: from the slums of Buenos Aires) there is only one escape- football. But it does not always mean playing football. A significant part joins the barra bravas. How would you describe these groups?

The Barras are criminal organiza ons associated with the clubs. Yes, the color, the noise and the passion in the stadiums are o en orchestrated by these groups but it gives legi macy to a whole host of other ac vi es. Club presidents around the country need to get into bed with these people in many cases to win elec ons and a er that, the Barra can have a huge say on whether that person remains in control at the club or not. The huge sums of money that these groups can generate via the club means that there is compe on for a piece of the ac on and internal fights between fac ons of the same Barra is the cause of a huge amount of the football violence in Argen na. It is why many would argue to away supporters ban fails to really address the problem.

Is it true that the most powerful barras pull in thousands every month through cket and parking rackets, and by controlling the lion's share of club merchandise and refreshments inside the stadiums?

Yes, exactly. It is exactly these type of ac vi es and the violent acts that the groups commit to maintaining control that leads to so many football related deaths in Argen na.

I read an interes ng statement by one of the members’ barra brava: In England, you think your fans, los hooligans, were powerful but they were nothing compared to us. All you did there was drink and fight. We drink, we fight and we also do business. As an Englishman, can you agree with it?

Precisely. This goes far beyond, a group of young men wan ng to have a row with some rivals in some loca on away from the ground. This is a business that runs in almost all cases within and with the coopera on of the club (off the books of course).

How does recruitment differ in the barras? Do you know the ways that they use to a ract members, it is the only perspec ve to get easy money or something else?

I'd imagine that given any financial gain would be minimal for new recruits the main recruitment tool would be

63

the sense of belonging. Friends or family members from the neighborhood could be members and the barra provides a group iden ty.

In your opinion, which of the barras has the biggest power and control the country? And, the barras ac vity goes beyond the borders of the country or not?

Boca is said to have the largest but virtually every club has a barra which would at least control certain things within their club. Boca's influence may stretch beyond that given Argen na's president is a former Boca president, the AFA president is a Boca supporter and his vice-president is the Boca president. Any es to the club's barra would be strongly denied.

So, in your opinion corrup on and barra bravas are the biggest problems of Argen ne football?

Yes, corrup on goes much further than simply the problem with the Barra bravas and it was no surprise to see that former AFA president Humberto Grondona was the most named figure in FIFA’s inves ga on. His death prevented him facing the music but South American football has been dirty for a long me and cleaning it up is a huge job that many in power probably s ll don’t really want to do.

There is a chance to improve the situa on with barras and corrup on, do you see any people or person who can do something with that?

There is always a chance but it would take a huge joint effort between the clubs, the AFA, the government and the police. What has been the case usually in the past is a lot of passing the buck and failure to act. There is a lot of money and power at stake so things like the away supporters ban are more for show and to try and look like football violence is being tackled when far more should be done with the barras.

Photo: Peter Coates

D

Miroslav Šuvak C R O AT I A

If there's a locally brewed craft beer on tap, I w o u l d a l w a y s r e c o m m e n d s u p p o r t i n g t h a t l o c a l b r e w e r.

City: Virovitica Born: 1982 Profession: Nova Runda Craft Beer

Ambassador Support: Dinamo Zagreb Other: BeerYard Festival In 2009, you decided to start homebrewing and brew first beer. Where did the idea come from? It was probably not so popular then, right?

In summer of 2009 we visited the Czech Republic, and over there we learned about beer culture and low gravity beers (session beers). We were amazed how Czech people really enjoy beer, I would call that casual drinking. A er that Czech holiday, we returned to Croa a and decided to try a homebrew. We found Croa an community gathered around home brewing, and guided by their advice, we brewed our first batch of beer.

You did not have much experience so you had to improve your knowledge and learn all about the produc on.

Did you have any funny stories related to the first beers you produced, some unsuccessful a empts?

That first batch of beer men oned above was probably the funniest homebrew a empt. There's a stage in homebrewing when you have to cool the temperature of worth around 20 degrees so you can successfully pitch the yeast. We didn't know how to do that properly, so we threw a huge block of ice into the wort previously collected at the town's fish factory. Surprisingly, the beer turned good.

Next step was cra brewery. With many ups and downs, you have become a part of cra beer revolu on. Which was the most difficult part of that?

First, we didn't get a bank loan, so we had to brew at the rented facility (aka Gypsy brewing). Down the road, we learned many disadvantages of a Gypsy brewing, and that costed us a lot. In one period we haven't been sure if we will financially make it. The second problem was dra beer - it sucked 'cause mainly you could find only industrial macro lagers made by three Croa an biggest breweries on taps, and they weren't interested in dra beer, bo les were more important to them in retail. We opened a brewery so we can

64

65

brew only unfiltered beers available on dra . We don't have bo les, and we believe the beer is in it's the best condi on when it's raw- without any modifica on during produc on. So along the way, we had to convince the pub owners to accept fresh dra beer. That was really painful at the beginning.

What is the biggest sin of cheap, regular, corporate famous beers?

Their owners.

So what to look for when we are buying beer?

I can tell you my logic of choosing beers at the bar.

Yeah, I said it, AT THE BAR. I rarely buy bo les for home (only for bo le sharing with my friends), and I o en drink at the bar.

First, I look at the selec on of beers on tap- if there's available cra beer on tap, I'll definitely choose that beer. The bonus is if it's unfiltered and well stored (in a cold chamber). I'll always remember the words of my friend Stan, the co-founder of Slovakian cra beer bar Beervana in Žilina: If you filter your beers, you're not going on our taps. I try to drink beers in establishments which appreciate beers- a cold chamber is one step of the proper beer apprecia on! Always try to find cra bars which store beers in cold temperatures. The last, but not the least, is local beer. If there's a locally brewed cra beer on tap, I would always recommend suppor ng that local brewer.

When I think about Croa a, I see wine or rakija but how it looks in your opinion? Is Beer becoming more popular or I am wrong?

There are more than 40 small and independent cra breweries now in Croa a, and we recently established Croa an associa on of small and Independent brewers. Beer culture is rising, and more and more people are asking for cra beer. It's definitely on the rise, especially in Zagreb where's now more than 10 beer specialized pubs across town.

Football related stuff, we're more music fans, so we like to make collabs with bands like we did with Croa an metal band ThroaTTwisteR. Can you recommend us some Croa an music bands?

You have three great indie rock bands- Jonathan, ESC Life, and Sleepyheads. Metal bands - Cold Snap and ThroaTTwisteR. Stoner bands - Cojones, Killed a Fox, Stonebride, She loves Pablo.

You organize BeerYard Fes val, can you say something more about it and invite readers to come?

The fes val is more oriented to a general public, but the beer geeks are welcome too! I like to think of it as a clash of two important scenes - cra beer scene and underground music scene. Since we're really into beer, and into music, we promote cra breweries, and underground bands (stoner, metal, punk, indie). I think those two scenes get along and they have similar public. Next to Croa an cra breweries, every year we invite guest brewers from abroad, and this year we're proud to have Manchester's Cloudwater brewery at the event.

There will also be Hop Hooligans from Romania, Pohjala from Estonia, Reservoir Dogs from Slovenia, Piwne Podziemie from Poland, Brew your Mind from Hungary and Meadly - Bulgarian Cra Mead. The fes val will be held on 1st September in Zagreb, and ckets will be available online soon!

Photo: Miroslav Šuvak

When it comes to beer, my first associa on is football match and fans in the pub, like in England. Are you interested in the football and do you support a team in T-Com Prva HNL? I'm not so much to sport in general (football included, sorry folks), and I don't watch Prva HNL. Honestly, I rarely watch anything lately because of the brewery stuff.

I can imagine when the World Cup start, will be many people drinking a beer and watching games. So football and casual culture should be important to the beer industry, right?

It's very important to the beer industry, and I would like to highlight INDUSTRY here. I think the big players, big industrial breweries, depend more on World Cup then cra breweries do. Small Cra breweries are limited with their produc on, and I think they already have established their sales network.

I saw even Hajduk 1911 Beer, have you thought of something similar and what you think about that idea?

Nope, we never thought to make a beer dedicated to

66

67

D

Hannes Thor Arason ICELAND

It is a fantastic feeling when people forget about life’s problems for 90 minutes and get lost in the beauty of the game.

City: Reykjavik Born: 1990 Profession: Film Director Support: KR Reykjavíkur Other: Directed the short lm FOOTSTEPS I've seen a lot of good Icelandic movies. Fúsi, Hjartasteinn, Heima, Hrútar… How would you rate/describe the movie market in Iceland? What can we expect in the coming years?

In Iceland, we have great filmmakers and a lot of talented people working in the industry. The difficult part is to secure funding and with us being such a small na on, we make a lot fewer movies than we can and should. Our films have screened at some of the biggest film fes vals in the world and won mul ple awards. This is great exposure for our na on, so hopefully, our government will con nue to recognize this and allow for more funding in the near future.

Most significant movie for Icelandic culture is...?

This is a hard ques on. Children of Nature (1991) is the only Icelandic film to have received an Academy Award nomina on and I believe it did a lot for the Icelandic film scene.

Opened a lot of doors and put us on the map, so to speak. So I would have to say that.

Do you think that football is like a movie and stadium- a cinema?

I don’t think so. When I watch sports, I have to watch them live. It’s exci ng to know that you are watching something in real me and that one mistake or one moment of brilliance can change a player’s life and club fortunes forever.

You feel like you’re experiencing it with the players and the fans who are at the stadium. This is a feeling that can’t be replicated when watching the game a er the fact, even if you don’t know the score. With movies, it’s almost the opposite. I try not to analyze the film on first viewing. If I have a connec on with the film, then I will watch it several mes to try and understand why it works for me and it becomes be er each me I watch it.

As a director and an ar st, what are you looking, watching the game? Do you pay a en on to how the football is shown on TV?

68

Football broadcasts have changed so li le since I started following the sport so I can’t say that I pay close a en on to the way it is shown, it is just a given. The ways you can film the game is very limited due to the nature of the sport and the pitch. I would be happy if the broadcasts don't change at all. I guess I'm old fashioned that way.

Your music video - Neon Experience - shows the beauty of Iceland. But if you have to say, why Iceland, what means to you? What’s the difference between other ci es and countries? As I know, you lived in Rome and Toronto.

Iceland is the only place that I can call home. I have lived abroad for quite a while but I always knew I would make it back here and probably grow old here. I think most Icelanders that go to live abroad feel this way. There is a certain energy here that always pulls you back. I think most of us are happy to be big fishes in a small pond instead of the other way around. I decided to film the Neon Experience music video in a small i s l a n d i n t h e s o u t h , c a l l e d t h e We s t m a n I s l a n d s (Vestmannaeyjar). Júníus Meyvant, the ar st, is from there and it's a very unique and beau ful place. In 1973 there was a volcanic erup on there which changed the landscape dras cally.

So, you have to choose one and only one place in Iceland, must see for tourist, what will it be and why?

I would recommend that tourist go check out Westman Islands. It’s such a lovely place to visit.

Ok, let’s go to the football now. As a Strákarnir okkar fan, tell me, why you are so good now? So small country and you were in Euro and now World Cup. We think it's a combina on of a few things. Firstly, we have a golden genera on of footballers all reaching their peak at the same me. Secondly, when they were growing up, the football associa on and local authori es invested money into building large indoor football halls which allowed them to play football at a good level in the winter me, something that wasn't really possible before. This along with some great tac cal adjustments by our coach Heimir Hallgrímsson and his predecessor Lars Lacerback, has resulted in us having a team that has been able to compete with most teams in the world.

What was the reac on of fans to the promo on to the World Cup in Russia?

A er the Euros success, we were all op mis c, but the World Cup was s ll a far fetched dream. We all grew up believing that a small country like Iceland would never be able to qualify so to see that happen is incredible and we are enjoying every minute of it.

This will be your first World Cup. What is the mood and expecta ons among the fans?

We were handed a tough group with Argen na, Nigeria, and Croa a. Most people are hoping that we qualify from the group and everything that follows is a bonus. But this no easy feat with these great teams.

69

And now let’s look ahead, if you had to choose one movie that will describe Iceland in upcoming World Cup, it will be? (and player for the main role) Let's go with Cool Runnings, with us being the smallest na on to ever qualify for a world cup. The ny na on, from a volcanic island, playing against Messi in our first ever World Cup match. Our coach Heimir Hallgrímsson is the John Candy character.

Can you say something more about your coach Heimir Hallgrímsson? What do the Icelanders think of him? He does not have much experience and a beau ful European career.

Speaking of Westman Islands, this is where our coach comes from and where he used to coach. We love him.

When he first started working for the na onal team, he was the assistant to Lars Lagerback, experienced former Sweden, and Nigeria coach. Hallgrímsson really benefited from his mentorship and experience. When Lagerback quit a er the Euros, we were all worried that the team would suffer but Hallgrímsson really took our game to the next level with some great tac cal implementa ons.

Your second film Footsteps is about an elderly man, who play football with his grandson. And it’s full of reminiscence of his youth. Do you have any memories related to the football?

When I was about 8 years old, I went with my family to our summer co age in the Icelandic countryside. Being a young, energe c boy, I was desperate to get someone to come outside and play football with me. I asked my siblings and parents but all said no. Just when I thought all hope was lost, up stepped my 90-year-old grandmother and offered to play with me. In hindsight, it was probably just because she was red of listening to me complain. So out we went and although her shoo ng technique wasn’t the best and I seem to recall that it was a rela vely easy win for me, this memory has stayed with me ever since and is how the idea for the film came about.

So, sport can be a bridge between the young and the older genera on?

Definitely! Sport can unify en re na ons and groups of people that seemingly have nothing else in common but love for their team. It is a fantas c feeling when people forget about life’s problems for 90 minutes and get lost in the beauty of the game.

Photo: Hannes Thor Arason

D

Ufuoma Egbamuno NIGERIA

Fo o t b a l l i s n o t j u s t a w a y o f l i f e f o r m o s t N i g e r i a n k i d s , i t i s a n e s c a p e r o u t e f r o m p o v e r t y.

City: Port Harcourt Born: 1980 Profession: Journalist Support: Heartland FC of Owerri Other: Nigeria Info Wazobia FM Why did you choose journalism?

Journalism is a passion for me. From a tender age, I read loads of newspapers, watched TV all day and listened to the radio like my life depended on it. And I always told myself, I want to be like these guys I watch and listen and here I am today.

As a child, did you go to matches?

In stadiums, no. I grew up in a community where we only had school football pitches. So, what I only got to watch was community football tournaments; inter school football

compe ons or football games involving the various houses in my school. It was quite fulfilling though.

You are a huge fan of Arsenal, but when it comes to the Nigerian Professional Football League, which team you support?

Heartland Football Club of Owerri. I grew up in Oguta, Imo State, Eastern part of Nigeria and Heartland - they were known as Iwuanyanwu Na onale then - was the only club I grew up knowing. So, it was easy to become a fan.

I was trying to find out something about the NPF league and the first thing is The League Management Company, what kind of organiza on is it and how it works?

The League Management Company (LMC) is a body saddled with organising league football in the country by the Nigeria Football Federa on in 2012, league football was almost brought to a halt in the country as a result of contractual, legal, financial and administra ve issues by the Nigeria Football League - the body in charge at the me. In November 2012, to avoid the comatose that was about to be experienced, the NFF in conjunc on with the Sports Ministry agreed to set up an Interim Management Commi ee to run the league. That has now metamorphosed into the League Management Company Structure wise, the LMC is owned by the NFF and the par cipa ng clubs. It has a 100 year mandate to run the league.

70

71

The NPF league cooperate with La Liga, you had some reforms and I saw you were ranked as the best league in Africa.

What is your opinion about the development of this league?

Unfortunately, whatever gains that have been made by the LMC in recent years seem to have suffered a setback. TV coverage of the league is not what it used to be. The country’s na onal TV - Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) - is now in charge and the broadcast I have to admit isn’t top-notch. Picture quality is poor and commentaries leave a lot to be desired. Till today, the LMC hasn’t come up with the official reason why former TV broadcast partners, Supersport, pulled out. The not-so-great TV coverage of the league has resulted to allega ons of corrup ons resurfacing again. Just days ago, the Confedera on of Africa Football banned a Nigerian referee, Joseph Ogabor, for a year for trying to ask South African match officials (in charge of a con nental game involving Nigeria Champions Plateau United and Algerian side USM Algiers) to favor the Nigerian team. This is just one of the many things that allegedly happens in league matches where home teams want to win at all costs. This many allege, is the reason teams who emerge tops at the end of the season find it difficult to compete with their rivals on the con nent. More so, pockets of violence have resurfaced. Just this season alone, two teams- Sunshine Stars and Heartland FC- have been deducted 3 points for crowd violence. So while the indices from that survey may look great, the league itself seems to have stalled or possibly is on a downward spiral.

What are the main problems for the NPF league now?

Like I just explained above, crowd violence; allega ons of corrup on; club administrators who are mostly square pegs in round holes are some of the issues. Most club administrators are appointed based on poli cal patronage. Most of them know li le or nothing about football administra on. The ones that even know, are less concerned about developing the clubs. They are mostly concerned with how to enrich themselves and cronies.

That is why issues like merchandising, financial autonomy, branding etc rank low in their thinking.

One thing that interests me, when you look at the league table, it is almost impossible to win away, why?

There is a win-at-home at all cost mentality which pervades the league. It is cankerworm that sees everyone involved - administrators, players, referees, and fans. Allega ons are rife that referees are paid incen ves by home teams to ensure they win their home matches. While no one has yet come out with proof, I have spoken with a good number of past and present administrators who have admi ed off-record about these. Worse of all is that some members of the NFF are part and parcel of this malaise. It can come in form of not ge ng favourable calls if you’re the away team no ma er how blatant the call is; ge ng a penalty awarded against you in the dying minutes of a game if the game is ed; or possibly officials allegedly pulling strings to ensure a good referee is appointed for games. Fans are even not le out. Many believe whether their team is great on the day or not, they must win home games. This is what most mes causes violence if it doesn’t go their way.

What is the a endance during games? Is it an important part of life for people?

For some teams, there is a massive support and large turnouts during games. Teams in the northern part of the country s ll follow their clubs religiously. Teams like Kano Pillars, El Kanemi Warriors, Lobi Stars, Nassarawa United, etc s ll enjoy a large following on match days. In Kano, northern Nigeria, there is an average of at least 10,000 fans every match day. Down south, it is not almost propor onate. Enyimba FC is s ll the most followed club in the country. However, a renova on work on their stadium for the last two seasons has seen them play in Calabar - about 4 hours’ drive from their base in Aba. This has largely affected a endance in their home games. 2016 Champions s ll enjoy a large following and almost always a ract a large number to their stadium in Enugu. But the likes of Akwa United and Rivers United in the South part of the country do struggle to get their fans to come to the stadium. For Rivers United, fan a endance can be put at an average of 1500 while Akwa is slightly higher. I have to state here that the figures are more guesswork in the course of my job covering these matches either live or on TV. Ge ng data in Nigeria for match a endance is usually difficult as record-keeping isn’t one of our best.

About the fans, in Europe its more about banners, flags, fo, pyrotechnic and for you, it’s music, instruments?

Music is part of the culture in Nigeria and most African countries. We love our instruments too. We can absolutely sing and dance all day during games. That’s what makes us unique.

Do you have any interes ng stories from matches?

There are loads of interes ng stories from watching league matches. Truth is, might spend the whole day typing them but I will give a few. Recently, a league player celebrated playing in the league for 20 years. Victor Ezeji who is currently a part of the LMC as Player Representa ve played for a host of clubs including Defunct Sharks, Dolphins (now Rivers United), Enyimba, Heartland, and Sunshine Stars. He won the league tle, several cup compe ons as well as con nental crown. I was at the stadium in Port Harcourt when Emem Eduok scored 6 goals in a game. That was in 2014 in a match involving his team Dolphins (now Rivers United) and Nembe City. Growing up, I can’t but remember between 1987 and 1990 where Iwanyuwa Na onale (now Heartland FC) were all conquering. The likes of Peter Obi; Uche Okechukwu (later captained Super Egles); Paul Uzokwe to men on a few dominated the scene so much that they won the league crown four years in a row from 1987 to 1990. More recently, in August 2015, Kano Pillars lost their home invincibility a er 12 years. Goals from Mannir Ubale and Yari Bature ensured Nassarawa United beat Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium for the first me in 12 years. It made the headlines and rightly so.

When it comes to the Na onal team, you have really good young players, like Iwobi, Iheanacho, Ndidi. So, football, is it a possibility for a be er future for kids in Nigeria?

Football is not just a way of life for most Nigerian kids, it is an escape route from poverty. Everywhere you go in the country, you will most certainly see a football field with kids playing. Many s ll harbor dreams of either playing in the league or move abroad and become the next Iwobi, Iheanacho, and Ndidi. Not only for the fame but also to become breadwinners for their families.

Photo: Ufuoma Egbamuno

72

BRASIL Fabio Brazza

SWITZERLAND Maxime Paradela

COSTA RICA Manrique Yglesias

SERBIA Andrej Kranjc

74

75

E

Fa b i o Brazza BRASIL

Julio Batista was only called for the Brazilian National t e a m i n 2 0 0 6 Wo r l d C u p b e c a u s e h e c o u l d p l a y C a v a q u i n h o .

City: São Paulo Profession: Poet/Rapper Support: São Paulo Other: Grandson of the concrete

poet Ronaldo Azeredo I spent a year in Portugal and met many people from Brazil. The Brazilian barbecues, par es with them, music, just have a fun. It was really like those Joga Bonito ads on TV. What do you think, what we should do to never grow up and enjoy your life?

I think Brazilians have a special way of socializa on, you can create a deep connec on with a Brazilian person in minutes, while in other countries you have friends for years and the way people socialize is too formal. I study and played soccer in a University in the USA for 4 years, and the thing I missed the most was my people, and the way we socialize. Music and Soccer are two passions that bring us together, no ma er your race or your social class, and that is the main power of those cultural elements.

Brazilian society is very unequal and unfair, while a few people are rich, the majority is poor, but in a samba circle or in a soccer match, we get together as same, we can all discuss the game even and celebrate samba together. I went to the Museum of Football in Sao Paulo Brazil and I learned that the first me black people, and poor

people broke the segrega on status of the me, was inside the soccer field. The first black heroes of our country came from samba and soccer. So back then, when riches and whites didn’t want to mix with blacks and poors, soccer and samba were the first to broke these barriers and showed that the strength of our people is in our mixture! Brazil s ll an unfair and segregate society in many forms, however soccer and samba s ll a utopia of how great could be our country if all our society were like that. A way of never grow up for me is to have friends and socialize with different people.

Ok, so when I think about Brazil, I see Caipirinha in my hand and churrasco. What is your favorite dish from Brazilian cuisine and drink, what can you recommend?

Oh, I love Brazilian meat with rice and beans. We eat rice and beans almost every day, but our rice and beans have a lot of flavor. Another Brazilian dish I love is estrogonofe. I am also addicted to sweets so I love Brigadeiro and Pudim de Leite for dessert! I, unfortunately, cannot suggest a drink because I don’t drink alcohol, but if you want a juice you can choose Caju juice. I would say all juices in Brazil are good because they are natural, different than the ones I drank in the USA. Your Grandfather was a famous Brazilian poet. So, how as a person, he influenced you?

My grandfather was my biggest reference as a person, and children learn by imita on. I used to see him reading big books and telling me wonderful stories so I got passionate about reading since very young. Apart from introducing me to samba, books, and

76

poetry, my grandfather inspired me as a person because he was very simple and humble. Even though he was a very intellectual guy, he never bragged about that. He was a friend of all working class of his neighborhood, from the lady that sells sweets in the streets to the waiter of the filthy bars that he used to go. He was a very funny person and used to socialize making jokes and talking about trivial things. Many mes he helped his friends. I remember he arranged a surgery for the son of his friend that was a valet in a restaurant because he couldn’t pay for the surgery. I was very young and used to walk beside him watching his steps very close. Today I see I act the same as him, telling jokes and socializing with everybody in my surround. Whenever my grandfather died, people from his neighborhood got sad and at the same me surprised to see an ar cle about him in a popular Brazilian newspaper. Nobody knew he was a poet, he never bragged about. That is a real poet for me!

So what you're looking for when are you listening to new music/inspira ons? What is important?

First of all, I pay a en on to the lyrics. As a rapper and a poet I learn from very young to deal with the words and its power, so I really pay a en on in each syllable used, in the technics and in the content of the song. That is the first thing my ears search in a song. The second thing I search is for authen city because there are songs that are so simple but enchant you by its truth. Samba songs are a good example of this, when a samba singer tells his story, about what happened in the favelas, many mes he makes gramma cal mistakes, the chords are simple, but its content is so real and authen c that makes it fascina ng. The third thing I search is originality because now a day you listen to so many things and it is so rare to listen to something that sounds different. Most parts of the songs look the same because people try to copy a recipe of success and the music gets superficial and industrialized.

Imagine that Brazil is in the final match of the World Cup in Russia. What song will you listen to before the game and a er?

Before the game I would listen to a Rap by Racionais MC’s A Vida é Desafio, and a er the game a samba to celebrate Deixa a vida me levar, which was the Samba Brazilian players used to sing in the locker room in 2002 when we won the World Cup. So, if I would ask the average Brazilian, what is more important in his life: samba or football, what will be the answer?

Well, I guess both because soccer and samba are twins brothers like basketball and Hip Hop. When I was young my samba skills helped me a lot on my soccer team. We all needed to par cipate in the samba on the back of the bus or in the locker room. When the older guys of the team discovered I could play they started to respect me more, that is when I became part of the crew of the back of the bus. Some people say that Julio Ba sta was only called for the Brazilian Na onal team in 2006 World Cup because he could play Cavaquinho. However, nowadays I see that young people are more into Brazilian Funk than in Samba. That makes me worry because Funk is an electronic music so you put in your headphones and listen. On the other hand, Aamba brings the group together, because everybody has to par cipate, either clapping the hands and singing or playing an instrument. I grew up playing soccer and playing Pandeiro, and both ac vi es came together as one. That is why whenever we play soccer we dance samba with the ball. I have a group of friends that we meet every Tuesday night to play soccer and a er play samba with churrasco.

You played football as a kid, like everyone else, how do you remember those matches?

My biggest dream was to become a soccer player and I literally played it every single day. I could tell you so many stories of great matches I did, however, the most precious things soccer gave me was the friendships I made, the places he took me to, and the people from different reali es and countries I had the chance to meet. I came from a rich neighborhood in Brazil and soccer made me have friends from favelas, and play with them, and go to their house, and meet their reality. Because of soccer I could gain a social conscience and recognized the true reality of my country. I didn’t socialize with people like that in my private school, but soccer gave me this chance and the things I learned inside the field were far more precious than what I learn in school. Because of soccer, I got a scholarship to study in the United States. I also travel to Asia for volunteer work and made many friends with the small soccer ball I took with me. I remember me in the streets of China playing with local people, or playing in the paradisiac beach on Thailand with local people, or playing with the kids of an orphanage in Cambodia in the middle of the jungle!

You are from Sao Paulo. It means that you support Sao Paulo FC or other teams?

Yes, I support Sao Paulo FC, however, we have 4 big soccer teams in Sao Paulo state and it is a big rivalry.

What is your opinion about the na onal league and the Brazilian football?

The problem of Brazil is the corrup on, and it affects not only soccer but all Brazilian ins tu ons. So government uses soccer as a tool to distracted people while takes our money. When people get furious they go to protest with the referee, the players, and the coach, but we don’t use the same energy to do that with our poli cians. Things are slowly changing and a er the last World Cup in Brazil in 2014, we start to realize that we need to do something about because while poli cians were making money in overpriced stadiums, people didn’t have decent schools or hospitals.

Poli cians stole a lot of money during the World Cup construc ons, and a lot of public protests rose that me. It was good that Brazil lost the World Cup, because when we win we tend to forget the rest, so now we are into a huge poli cal crisis, but finally some of the untouchable poli cians are being arrested. The other problem with our league is that all the good players and even many mediocre players are sold to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, so we can’t make great teams with the few that stay. Also, it is so hard a player or a coach stay for more than a year in a team, the soccer market is so dynamic, and there are so many directors and managers interested in making some money in selling players, that the teams struggle in making a strong and connected squad. The level of the game decreased a lot, I remember our league used to be so strong in the 90s, but it got so worse that I’ve been watching more Champions League, Premier League or Spanish League, than the Brazilian League itself. If I watch a Brazilian League game is for passion, but not for pleasure anymore. Another problem with the empty stadiums is the high price of the ckets. The working class cannot buy expensive ckets, and there is a process of eli sm of Brazilian soccer. Violence is also another factor that moves people away from the stadiums. It is very sad to see that happening because those things corrupt the real meaning of a soccer game.

Photo: Fabio Brazza

77

E

Maxime Pa r a d e l a SWITZERLAND

There was no goal, no net, the pitch was so small and so hard because there was no grass.

B u t n o m a t t e r, w e w e r e f r i e n d s a n d w e h a d a l o t o f f u n .

City: Lausanne Born: 1990 Profession: Designer Support: Neuchâtel Xamax Other: The Etat des lieux project You are the author of the Etat des lieux project. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

During my last year of forma on as a graphic designer, the school where I was allowed us to produce an audacious and totally free work. The choice to process this subject seemed me obvious because football is a large part of my daily and refers to something very personal. Football is really a passion for me. I play since I was a child, but I also have the chance to ally this sport with my work: whether on personal and even professional projects. I chose the photography because it was a technical of expression that I had never used before, and I must take risks for this project. So I bought a camera, a tripod and I decided to do a photographic report on the amateur football fields in my region, in Switzerland.

Before to start taking my first photos, I had to make choices about

the way to enter in this inventory work. I had to create rules to structure my approach. So my work becomes perfectly structured, leaving various random factors influence the image (weather, pitches, scenery or lights). First, I defined a specific geographical area with the choice of three districts in the French part of Switzerland (the region I come from). In this territory, I eliminated all approved fields for the Swiss professional level. Being modern enclosure in a professional or almost professional structure, they haven’t a lot of interest in my project. Therefore, my work lists seventy pitches, photographed in the same manner: in front of goals. In this way, the series of images contain the same unchangeable subject in the center, while the external environment varies on each shot. As a portrait, a pain ng, the ground is captured for a moment in its natural environment. An inventory.

At the me of making this material, do you had some interes ng stories/situa ons?

Oh yes and more than one, I could almost write a book about my adventures during this project! First of all, I had to organize myself and plan each travel to cover a maximum of grounds in one day. But what you need to know is that I do NOT have a car license! So, it was a great constraint to go and visit all these football fields. Fortunately, many of my friends were able to help me and bring me with their own car. I also took the train several mes, even if it was complicated with the schedules; I missed it more than once. And I made some travels by scooter also. But with all my equipment it wasn't easy to move, especially when it broke

78

79

down. Some mes, on some pitches, goals weren't placed in the right place. So I had to move them alone to take my picture in the exact condi ons of my project. Also, I arrived in front of a locked stadium; so I had to make several calls to find the person in charge of the field who could come to open the enclosure. Although, all the people I met were very friendly and interested in my project.

What did you want to show through this project?

Highlight the beauty of these places, o en placed into the middle of nature and far from the arenas of professional football, was my goal throughout this work. I also wanted to show the simplicity and values that there are around this sport among fans where football becomes passion again. Photographed by this way, without players, they are highlighted and completely decontextualized. However, despite the absence of the man and the game, we can feel their presence, because the land is marked by the passage of me and the succession of matches, players.

Looking at the condi on of the lawn or goals, observing the nets or the penalty point, we find traces of human and the game in this ba lefield full of history.

So, which team do you support? Some of the lower leagues, or team from Super League?

In lower leagues, being an amateur football player myself, I necessarily support my own club: the FC Vaulion, which is also present in my book. In Super League, I don't really have a favorite team. I like to follow the European course of FC Basel every year, the Young Boys of Bern because they will finally win the championship this year or the Lausanne-Sport because it's the club of my region. If I had to name only one, it would be Neuchâtel Xamax, who will go back to the first division next season. It's a legendary club in Switzerland, which had excellent results in European Cup in the past. I'm looking forward to seeing them at the highest level in Switzerland. In fact, the team that I support and for which I have a real a achment is not in Switzerland: I am a big fan of Valencia CF, in Spain. I will not explain why, it's a long story and it's not the subject. However, I have the impression that in Switzerland, most football fans follow and vibrate for teams elsewhere in Europe. Probably because these clubs make them dream, have stars in their teams and are a lot followed by the media.

Do you go to matches o en?

I will very o en see amateur football matches in my area.

With my club we love to see the other teams in our region play because we know each other, there are rivalries, compe on, etc.

Some mes I go to see some professional matches in Switzerland: especially in Lausanne, Sion or Bern. But the biggest match I saw was L'Olympico: the derby between the two Olympics in France (Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais). The stadium was full, 60 000 people, a beau ful atmosphere, full of goals.

Difficult to find the same condi ons in Switzerland, except perhaps in Basel.

What do you think is the beauty of the lower leagues?

Passion. But not only that of the players, but of all those who take care of the life of the club: manager, gardner, stewart and even the person who wash jerseys. All these people give me for the club so that players can live their passion in the best condi ons and for a long me. I met someone who has been president of a club for more than 40 years and who has sacrificed a lot of his me

(o en family me) so that young people in his village, in his region can play football. What engagement!

From the ar st's point of view, what do you prefer to see, full Stade de Geneve or some old pitch in the suburb, and why?

Of course, the old pitches lost in the middle of nature.

They have so many histories to tell us. I find that the new stadiums are now all similar in their architecture; it's some mes difficult to differen ate them! Fortunately, there are some excep ons such as the spectacular Estádio Municipal de Braga built in the rock or the Vélodrome in Marseille which has been renovated in the same con nuity and keeps its form so recognizable.

How good and popular in Switzerland is amateur football? All children play football every day, what are the condi ons or structure for this?

Amateur football is very popular in Switzerland: this is the sport where there is the biggest number of licensees and its number is increasing every year. However, the na onal sport is Ice Hockey. Even if football, in recent years and with the good results of the na onal team, competes in popularity with this sport now. Yes, children play football all the me, whether at school, in their club or village, there is always a place to play football. Young people are well supervised and the infrastructures are good, even if they are not ultra-modern. There is also a very good forma on in Switzerland since about 15-20 years and the results were quickly excellent: European champion M17 in 2002, World champion M17 in 2009, finalist of the Euro M21 in 2011. These are incredible results for such a small country! Since 2004, the na onal team has always qualified for the Euro and World Cup (except in 2012).

You played football as a kid, do you have some memories of that me?

Of course! I remember that a er school, we always went to a place in the middle of the village to play football. There was no goal, no net, the pitch was so small and so hard because there was no grass. But no ma er, we were friends and had fun.

Why you choose art./design as a way of life?

I started working as a computer scien st at the beginning. But I didn't like it at all: too strict, logical, no place for errors. Being curious, I discovered the a graphic design naturally and I immediately liked that. I found myself totally in this crea ve and limitless universe. I started a new forma on of graphic designer, specialized in communica on and editorial design. A er few years in this domain and because I love new things, I had the chance to work in a contemporary art center. Currently, I am the ar s c director in a digital communica on agency: I mainly do branding and web interface design. I even started a new forma on of UX designer in parallel. The world of design really fascinates me, it's not a job for me, it's a passion. I am always hungry for new knowledge, discovery. Who knows what I'll do in a few years?!

In the end, what do you think about the kits for upcoming World Cup in Russia?

I'm not a very fan of Puma's kits style, which I o en find ugly or without character. But this year, for the World Cup, they did a great and original job for the Na : the topographical map of the Ma erhorn (the most famous mountain in Switzerland) comes to cover the shirt, forming a subtle and elegant texture.

Photo: Maxime Paradela

80

81

E

Manrique Yglesias C O S TA R I C A

I got calluses in my hands for pounding kilos of newspaper to help with the reception of the team in important matches.

City: San José Born: 1993 Profession: Journalist/Student Support: Alajuelense Other: Worked for Olé Magazine Currently, you are a journalist in Olé. But how did the story with a passion to the football start in your case?

I'm no longer in Olé. Now I'm passing through Barcelona. My passion for football is that I do not have a specific beginning. When I was a child, it was my favorite ac vity, and a er watching the Costa Rican soccer games on television, they finished cap va ng me. I think that if you enjoy the game, passion is even more special.

You studied in Argen na at the same university as Falcao (Universidad de Palermo), but you are a Costa Rican so what was the reason to move and choose Argen na and this school?

Having been in the same university as Falcao was just a coincidence. I chose Argen na because I always felt very iden fied and passionate about the ways Argen nes have to live football.

Also, my Godfather was Argen ne, that some mes I think he could also influence to choose that country.

Being in Costa Rica, do you remember the first match that you watched live?

If the memory does not fail me, it was a match for CONCACAF eliminatory: Costa Rica - Honduras in the old Na onal Stadium. I was 7-8 years old.

Could you tell us, what club you support in Costa Rica and why?

I always liked Alajuelense. We nicknamed him La Liga.

My grandfather was a team fan too, but I do not think that was why.

Nothing else sat me to watch the games on the television, and the feeling was progressive. I remember that in my adolescence I got calluses in my hands for pounding kilos of newspaper to help with the recep on of the team in important matches.

Looking at the Liga FPD in Costa Rica, its format is a li le bit complicated and unusual. Can you explain it to us? Is it about climate and weather right?

Yes, there is currently a new format (quadrangular). We have been very changeable with the tournament formats. I always preferred that they be two short championships (winter and summer) and, instead of there being semi-finals and final, as was always done, it is done by accumula ng points throughout the tournament, like the important leagues. The climate does not have

82

much to do, yes with, the change that there was of synthe c fields by the excess of rain. Luckily, some teams were able to return to the natural grass and improve the drainages and have first level fields.

and li le by li le they have achieved it, but it is very difficult to achieve it in its en rety. People are always going to have prejudices.

When I was making an interview about Argen na, we talked a lot about Barras bravas. I think especially in Argen na they are the most dangerous. But how it looks in Costa Rica? Can you say that this is the biggest problem in Costa Rican football?

No. In Costa Rica, episodes of violence in football are isolated. They are the same misfits that steal in any corner of the city, or that permanently think about exploi ng or ac ng violently. I do not share that in Argen na they are the most dangerous, I believe that there are places in the world where the behavior of people is more violent. What happens in Argen na is that the barras bravas have power, in the small groups of bars that take advantage of the business, and the collec ve force of violence, which makes it a problem that crosses football, and in the one that involves characters with more power and alien to the clubs.

Do you know more ini a ves like the dona ons for Cinchona earthquake in 2009, where barras did a good job and help people?

Yes, in mes of Christmas there are always dona on days for low-income children. I also remember that in floods there were many volunteers who collaborated with the cause. I think that annually the two largest barras in Costa Rica always do a minimum social work.

Once you said: they are a reflec on of our society. Could you explain it?

Yes. The stadium is only one more space within society, with the difference that it groups the different social classes, with the idea that there they are all homogenous, and lends itself so that each person expresses the values and educa on that had, or not. It is not the same passion in Turkey, Spain or Argen na, for example. Perhaps the most violent and irra onal Turks, the measured Spaniards and the Argen nes exploi ng business crea vely and illicitly.

How does recruitment differ in the barras?

The ways to a ract members? I think there is no established mechanism. It is a ma er of encouraging oneself if the person is interested, and eventually organize with the members of the community to enter and have more sense of belonging with them.

Does the government prevent them?

Yes, but with inopportune measures. The preven on to avoid violence within the stadiums is as simple as pu ng the right of admission.

Your best/nicest memory related to the na onal team?

Go out see my team champion a er many adversi es (Alajuelense- Herediano in 2010).

Photo: Manrique Yglesias

Would you try to describe social groups/classes that go to matches in Costa Rica? And maybe you have some stories from matches you saw live in Costa Rica?

Describing or differen a ng social stratum in the hobbies of Costa Rica is difficult. It's a small country. There are no trends too marked. The only reality is that Alajuelense and Saprissa occupy 80% of the soccer popula on. Yes. The classic between Alajuelense and Saprissa is lived with great intensity, unfortunately now they are not able to a end the visi ng matches. Really in Costa Rica, I lived the experiences in the stadium in a very calm way.

I watched some fights, and I once received an abuse of police authority. My stadium stories stayed in Argen na more than in Costa Rica. I was a teenager. I went to the stadium with friends and family.

How does it looks in the case of the fans of the na onal team? You have Barras de Costa Rica, but do they work on the same rules as those in clubs?

I think that in Costa Rica the bars were very popular at the beginning of the 21st century. They were more crowded, but with the diaboliza on of the media with the members, and the taboo of belonging to those bars, has weakened them. But I think the vast majority of its members, ponder their passion for the team, rather than download their violence, and are working to reverse the image that society has of them.

But, they are doing also a good thing, like the dona ons for Cinchona earthquake in 2009. What's your opinion about that?

Exact. I think they have focused on reversing the image

83

E

Andrej Kranjc SERBIA

B e f o r e I w a s a p h o t o g r a p h e r, I w e r e o n e v e r y game on Stadium Rajko Mitic, supporting the Crvena Zvezda.

City: Belgrade Born: 1996 Profession: Photographer Support: FK Crvena Zvezda Other: Sports photography

Sports photography is not an easy job, right?

That is right, especially at the beginning, while I had bad equipment, it was hard, but today it is a dream job for me, and it is so much easier with a new camera, new lens.

What are the most common problems you encounter in your work?

There are not so many, some mes a person jumps into a cadre, some judge on basketball for example.

What is in your opinion the best sports photo of all me?

Through the history of sports, there are so many good photos, so I cannot really make a decision.

When did you start Photography and what was the reason?

Do you have any favorite photographer, your role

Most of your work is connected to Crvena Zvezda teams/sec ons: football, basketball, volleyball, handball. So, it means you support them?

Yeah, I’m a huge fan/supporter of Crvena Zvezda, my first football game what I watch, was Crvena Zvezda - Bayern Munich in UEFA CUP in 2007, I was a nine years old kid.

All those oldest sports photographers who work for Serbian newspapers. One of them is Bane Stojanovic, he is a so good photographer, also a big Crvena Zvezda fan, he was in Bari in 1991 when Red Star won the Champions League.

What do you think, is it different to make photos of the team you support?

Yes, it is very difficult for me not to celebrate every goal that my Crvena Zvezda score, because I must catch the moment.

It was a september 2015, I bought my first Nikon (it was a D80), reason is that I always love to make memories with some good camera, also my dad and stepdad are photographers.

model?

84

85

Crvena is a special club, because of the home fans. You cannot be bored during games, right?

Crvena Zvezda have the best fans in the world! Before I was a photographer, I were on every game on Stadium Rajko Mi c, suppor ng the Crvena Zvezda.

As a photographer, what do you think about the ultras?

As a photographer, I see them as addi onal material for photography.

Do you think what they do, it's art?

It is art, maybe even more than art, it is love.

Do you have good stories from the games you have photographed? Maybe Derby game?

Every game I've photographed has a story, especially a derby, it is always a story for myself, the atmosphere is tense, a player who scores a goal becomes a legend in eyes of a fan.

You also took photos during the qualifica on for the World Cup and during Europa League games. How big are the differences, between these games?

The stadiums are fuller, it's a different atmosphere when playing a star and when playing a na onal team, people here do not have much faith in the na onal team, this season the stars played very well the European league, just unexpectedly, the coach reborn the team, the same was done by the Muslim with a representa on, but a er that he was fired, very strange, so people do not believe much in the na onal team.

What game you will never forget and why?

Crvena Zvezda - Koln in Europa League last December, when we place in next stage, It's been wai ng for 25 years for that, also Crvena Zvezda - CSKA Moscow in Euroleague in December 2016, big win for us.

When you think about the World Cup, what picture you have before your eyes first?

The beauty of Russia, soo much Serbs in Russia, celebra ng the win against Costa Rica and Switzerland, maybe a draw against Brazil, placing in the next stage, respect between other na ons, so much good football, I am sad because I don’t go to Russia, I must study and pass some exams in June.

„ Every game I've photographed has a story, especially a derby, it is always a story for myself, the atmosphere is tense, a player who scores a goal becomes a legend in eyes of a fan.

Photo: Andrej Kranjc

86

GERMANY Carl Fischer

MEXICO Luis Adrian Plancarte Olmos

SOUTH COREA Jiyou Kim

SWEDEN Henrik Ljusberg

88

89

F

Carl Fi s h e r GERMANY I think a lot of journalists or football f a n s d o n’ t k n o w a l o t a b o u t t a c t i c s .

But for me, it’s not their main task to say clever stuff about specic aspects of football.

City: Berlin Born: 1998 Profession: Football Analyst Support: Bayern Munich Other: Author of Konzeptfussball You are the founder of Konzep ussball, can you tell us a li le bit more about it?

Konzep ussball is a website that talks about football tac cs and training. As a child, I looked up to the guys from spielverlagerung.com. Reading every analysis on the bus home.

Watching football from all over the world every day. And then I started Konzep ussball wan ng to do the same. And luckily more people joined. And today we are wri ng about football tac cs and training your own team.

You have a Xavi quote on your website: 98% percent of the people love Football, but only 2% understand it. But when we talk too much about the tac c and do a lot of analyses, it will not kill the real meaning of football and the joy that it makes?

It depends on the person. For me, tac cs are the joy. But I can also stand up or scream during a Bayern Munich game and be emo onal. Then I enjoy this site of football. In the end, you have to decide for yourself what you like. I love analyzing the game. Seeing the ideas from the coaches. Seeing changes during the game. That’s the joy for me.

What do you think, when you o en listen to football fans opinion or journalists who know nothing about the tac c and trying to say something clever, but they are making a big mistake? And does it happen o en?

I think a lot of journalists or football fans don’t know a lot about tac cs. But for me, it’s not their main task to say clever stuff about specific aspects of football. Without the passion of the fans, it would be a different game and a good commentator is also very enjoyable. Even though they say something wrong about tac cs.

Where did your passion for tac cs and analyses come from?

What tools and so ware or apps are most helpful for you to make analyses?

Just my Laptop. Drawing on Screenshots. Cu ng Videos with iMovie. Apps I could make schemes and play around on a tac cal board.

I was always a big football fan. And one day I just searched for the different tac cs in football because I was interested in it. Then I found spielverlagerungen.de. For me, this was like walking into a candy shop as a kid. So many ar cles, so specific about a lot of things I never recognized. I was interested in

90

it. And through spielverlagerung.de I got really passionate and obsessed.

As a child, did you have a favorite team whose style of playing or tac c you admired?

I always loved Pep Guardiola. His Barcelona was amazing. It was such a revolu on and I liked how the played. Really smart, really intelligent football. With a lot of incredible players. The way they passed the ball around and when the lost the ball they wanted to win it back immediately. For me this was incredible. The dominance about nearly every aspect of the game was astonishing.

Looking at previous winners of the World Cups, how would you describe tac cal changes over these years?

2010 Spain really dominated with their posi onal play.

Germany was focused more on pressing and counter-a acks. 2010 not a lot of teams had ideas to beat Spain. Within the years pressing got more advanced and they found many ways to be effec ve against the posi onal play from Spain. A lot of teams got more ideas to win against them. Three in the back got more popular again and since then a lot of the teams can play this forma on. Some can even switch during the game.

In your opinion, the biggest difference between three (or maybe should we say five?) and four in the back? And which a ack forma on is the best against these tac cs?

The three center-backs cover the width of the field. In posi onal play, they have a good structure and can play the ball into half-spaces. But it also really depends how the team is structured in front of the three in the back.

How do you train players/trainers in this aspect? Julian Nagelsmann is a great example of the new German tac c school.

I think tac cs play a big role in the Bundesliga. We have a big focus on pressing and counter pressing, being very compact and winning the ball high up the pitch. I personally miss some coaches that can really develop a good posi onal play. La Liga got more small teams that try to be successful in keeping the ball and having a good structure in possession. I don’t think that it is a new German tac c school but a lot of young coaches ge ng a chance in the first league and I really like this.

Of course, Bayern is the biggest team in Germany. But s ll, I don’t understand the phenomenon of Jupp Heynckes. What is behind his great results? Tac c?

Yeah, I think Heynckes is a great coach, who got a great idea of football. And he can really teach his idea and also he is very good with the players and keeping a good spirit in the team.

What do you think, how Germany will play in Russia, it will be very different from what it was in 2014 or they should not change the tac c and forma on?

I think they are more flexible. For example, they could start with a three in the back. Also, they have a more versa le squad. Like for example as a striker, Werner could play but then also Gomez and Wagner are op ons if they want to put many crosses in the box. Like they did in the last minutes against Brazil.

Could you show us an example of this analysis? Let’s say Mario Goetze final goal in FIFA World Cup 2014.

91

It is a simple mistake. Schürrle runs down the wing.

Mascherano wants to a ack him and pushes to the wing. Götze is the only player in the middle, but the central midfielder is next to him. So actually the movement from Mascherano was secured very well from the central midfielder. The problem is Schürrle s ll has too much me to cross the ball and Götze moves well in behind his man. The finish is just very good.

Photo: Carl Fischer

„ For me, tactics are the joy. But I can also stand up or scream during a Bayern Munich game and be emotional. Then I enjoy this site of football. In the end, you have to decide for yourself what you like. I love analyzing the game. Seeing the ideas from the coaches. Seeing changes during the game.

That’s the joy for me.

F

Luis Adrian Plancarte Olmos MEXICO T h e Wo r l d C u p s t a d i u m s h a v e n o t b e e n f o r g o t t e n , they are mostly special venues where people still enjoy football.

City: León Born: 1991 Profession: Architect Support: Club León Other: Master in Architectural Design Football, big tournaments like World Cup. It’s all about players and fans. But I think what we forget about stadiums. Finally, they create the atmosphere of football. What is your opinion about it?

Talk about a World Cup is synonymous with joy, color, and mul culturalism. But it means too talking about millionaire investments, economy, social impacts and mega construc ons. The stadiums are the main stage where the magic of the tournament develops. But also these construc ons are the representa on of progress, technology, economic power and tradi on that the host country transmits to the world. The construc on of these venues also represents a great opportunity for the growth, improvement, and development of the host ci es.

Mexico was the hosts of the World Cup twice. How it affected the design/projects and construc on of stadiums?

In the case of Mexico, the 1970 World Cup took place at a period when Mexico wanted to demonstrate the growth and moderniza on of the country. They had just passed the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico City, so there were many recently built venues, 4 of the 5 venues of the 1970 World Cup, were part of the Olympic football tournament, adding only the Estadio Luis Dosal in Toluca. For the 1986 World Cup, some extensions and minor fixes were made to the exis ng stadiums that had been hosts for the World Cup in 1970, some others were added that were already in opera on in na onal soccer, and only one new stadium was built in the city of Queretaro exclusively for the World Cup. What happened to these stadiums a er the event?

Most stadiums are s ll in opera on and are regular venues of Liga MX teams. With the passage of me, they have undergone some modifica ons, but they con nue being scenarios of great plays week by week. In the case of the Estadio 3 de Marzo in Guadalajara and the Estadio Sergio León Chavez in Irapuato, stadiums of the 1986 World Cup, they are used by the minor divisions, while the Neza 86 stadium in Nezahualcoyotl is abandoned, as a reflec on of the choice of this city as host of the world cup for poli cal and economic purposes, unsupported and without a deep analysis. Only the Estadio Tecnológico de Monterrey was demolished to make way for the Estadio BBVA.

92

93

The Estadio Azteca is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world. This was the value of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God. But you as an architect, what do you think about this stadium?

The Estadio Azteca in its me was a revolu onary building, because of its dimensions and construc ve methods, they were a symbol of modernity, projected by Pedro Ramírez Vazquez, one of the great Mexican architects, he achieved to make his concrete colossus a na onal emblem. At the me of construc on and despite its large size, the capacity was in line with the growing love for football in the country, which was in rapid rise. The Colossus of Santa Ursula is a key element in the history of Mexican architecture and a reflec on of the country's situa on in those years.

Opened in 1966, was renovated four mes. Last me two years ago, how much has changed since 1966?

The stadium has undergone some changes in terms of the crea on of new areas in its bleachers, the crea on of new boxes and VIP areas, which although not en rely aesthe c and harmonious with the original architectural image of the site, respond to the current demand of the modern football. However, the mys cism, symbolism, and history remain intact despite the passage of me, being always considered the cathedral of Mexican football, the main stage of na onal football.

Nex t important stadium is Estadio Olimpico Universitario. It was here, Tommie Smith and John Carlos did a black power salute during the medal ceremony. Do you think that stadiums play a larger role than just football pitch?

Stadiums as architectural object always go beyond just the game. Depending on the immediate, historical, social and cultural context. They can become cultural heritage, as in the case of the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, declared as such by the mural that adorns its facade and form part of the university campus of the UNAM; historical heritage because of the events that took place in them, such as the Estadio Nacional de Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship. Or they can work, together with various public poli cs, as triggers for the urban and economic development of ci es, as happened with Barcelona in the 1992 Olympics. A stadium by its nature always has an impact in its immediate context.

You support Club León. So Estadio León is your home. Do you have your special memories with this place? And where did the love for this club come from?

The Estadio León considered it my second home, in which I have experienced great joys and sorrows throughout my life, great spor ng feats and also thunderous defeats. It's where my love for football and Club Leon was born. One of the great memories I have is the final of promo on in 2012 where Leon achieved to return to the first division a er 10 years of absence, it was crazy! The city was paralyzed to celebrate the long-awaited return. My heart speeds up when I remember that day. Another special memory is that it was in this place where I met my first girlfriend, who was going to imagine it, that stadium is a magical place for me, a place where I feel alive. My love for the club was love at first sight, it was born one day that my uncle took me to watch a game against Irapuato, our most hated rival sports mainly speaking, since that day I fell in love with the atmosphere.

You have also a lot of newly opened stadiums in Mexico, like Estadio BBVA Bancomer or Estadio Chivas. What’s the reason for that? The old stadiums, which remember the World Cup ’70 and ’86 are already forgo en by people?

The boom in the construc on of new stadiums in Mexico is due to the need to renovate exis ng stadiums that have gradually become obsolete. In recent years, the Territorio Santos Modelo, the Santos de Torreón home, the Estadio BBVA Bancomer home of Monterrey and the Estadio Chivas home of Guadalajara have been inaugurated, the Cuauhtémoc stadium in Puebla and the Nemesio Diez stadium in Toluca have been reformed. In addi on there has been talking of a possible new stadium for the Club León and Tigres de la UANL. In the case of Club Monterrey and Santos, their previous homes were too small for their fans, the new construc ons also served to support the recent spor ng achievements of both clubs. The Chivas, in turn, shared a stadium with the Atlas and the Leones Negros only existed one big stadium of football in Guadalajara. They felt the need to have their own stadium for one of the most important clubs in Mexico. The construc on of these new stadiums is also jus fied with the illusion of the country to be able to host a third world cup in the coming years. The World Cup stadiums have not been forgo en, they are mostly special venues where people s ll enjoy football.

As an architect, do you think we can create stadiums that would help or favor ultras groups?

In Mexico, although there are barras, soccer is s ll a family show. However, it has always reserved the place of these groups of anima ons inside the stadiums, example of which are the new stadiums of Monterrey and Chivas, which have a designated area where the barra is placed, area that does not have seats, likewise Areas for visitors are usually assigned, with independent access to the stadium for security reasons. In a way, architects must consider that there will always be different fans sectors with different requirements and all must be considered when designing, because they are part of the essence of the club in most cases.

Do you have any design/architect ideas that helped improve doping in the stadiums?

If we refer to doping by the euphoria and emo on that people feel in the stadiums, there are certain features that stadiums must have. On the one hand, the stadium must contain elements that allude to the iden ty of the team, the city and/or the neighborhood where it is located, this to create a link with the fan and the architectural space, it’s important that people feel the stadium as their home and not as a strange building. On the other hand, I have no ced in the stadiums that I have visited that the proximity of the grandstand with the court gives a special atmosphere to the stadium, makes the spectator feel close to the ac on and gives the sensa on of being part of what is happening on the playing field. In aspects unrelated to architecture, the iden ty of the fans with the team and the sports results usually contribute to a stadium having a great party or seems that it’s being played in an empty place. Yes, the architectural space can help, but it’s the nature of the fans that determine the atmosphere during a match.

Photo: Luis Adrian Plancarte Olmos

94

95

F

Jiyou Kim S O U T H KO R E A

Korean fans used a lot of pyros until 10 years ago.

In Japan, pyro was banned much earlier than in Korea.

City: Incheon Born: 1992 Profession: Marketing Support: Incheon United Other: Casual culture fanatic Growing up in Incheon, what made you happy most?

Football?

Incheon is the third largest city in South Korea. There are more than 3 million people living in Incheon. Incheon has both interna onal airports and large ports. Incheon Port was the first place where football entered Korea. It takes only an hour to get to Seoul. There are so many things to enjoy. Incheon is the city with the most advanced professional sports in Korea. The most popular sports team in Incheon is the baseball team. It may be difficult for Europeans to understand, but the most popular sport in South Korea is baseball. Incheon also has a women's football club, a basketball team, a volleyball team, and even an ice hockey team.

But what makes me happy is absolutely football. In fact, the history of professional football in Incheon is only 15 years old.

Let’s focus on your childhood, where we’d d look for your casual roots. I mean, do you have some inspira on from this period of me?

Because Incheon was an industrial city, there were many factories and jobs. Most Incheon ci zens are working-class. Such an environment has led me to what I am today. When I first had a club, my father took me to the stadium because I was young. Even now, he o en joins in on away tours. Also, Incheon United was founded in 2003. Football fans in Incheon have already learned many fan cultures around the world through satellite TV and the Internet. As you already know, the Internet speed in Korea is really fast. As a result, football fan culture in Incheon was able to develop quickly despite its short history.

In South Korea, football is probably not so popular as in Europe or South America. What is the reason? You had a big tournament in 2002, so it should be a catalyst for change.

It is probably the American influence that Koreans love baseball. Before 2002, Koreans loved the na onal team the most.

This is because Koreans have a strong na onalis c tendency. Most adult men, including me, have been to the army. Also, for historical reasons, Korean society emphasizes na onalis c educa on. There are many Koreans who like European football. Since 2002, many Korean players have advanced to the European leagues. Their match was broadcast live on TV. Many people watch European football on TV at dawn but do not visit their local football stadium.

This is irony.

What has changed a er the World Cup in 2002?

Thanks to the 2002 World Cup, Incheon United FC was born in my city. Many K League clubs were born at a similar me.

Because many new stadiums were built to host the World Cup and had to u lize them a er the tournament. Incheon United has built

96

its own stadium in 2012, but many Korean clubs s ll use the World Cup Stadium. Also, the World Cup raised the need for long-term planning. For example, a stadium infrastructure, a youth system, and a promo on-relega on system. Since 2002, Korean fan culture has changed a lot. Un l then, the rela onship between supporters and clubs had been close. However, since 2002, the banner of Ultras has begun to appear on the stadium. Football fans in Korea have begun to understand mentality as well as the appearance of foreign fans. The hos ng of the World Cup le many good and bad points at the same me. Personally, I think South Korea was not good enough to host the World Cup. The lack of substance con nues to affect us.

In Korea you support Incheon United FC. They did not start well this season, what's the atmosphere at the Incheon Football Stadium?

Before the opening season, Incheon United fans had conflicts with the club’s president. We are s ll figh ng. He abused his authority and lied to fans. Also, he tried to oust the club's legend.

Fans demonstrated with banners and chants even during the match. Fans did not cri cize the players even if they did not perform well. I believe the president will leave the club during the World Cup break. The new coach will come, too. Fans believe in the players.

The history of Incheon United was a history of hardship.

Your club is called community club, can you explain to us why? What does it mean for the fans?

I'm not sure if community club is the right term. Anyway, Incheon United FC receives budget support from the Incheon Metropolitan Government. Other corporate clubs receive budget support from their parent companies. Examples are Jeonbuk Hyundai or Suwon Samsung. That is the difference between a community club and a corporate club. Community clubs aren’t rich compared to corporate clubs. Usually, corporate clubs are ranked at the top of the table. Of course, I wish my club were a li le richer. But I am proud that the club represents my city. Corporate clubs are based not on ci es and fans but on corporate interests. In Korea, the club betrayed its fans and moved to a new hometown. A prime example is FC Seoul owned by GS Group. In 2004, they moved from Anyang city to Seoul. So, that club’s nickname is GS Merda.

I know that you had some problems with the club, I mean, you were furious when they changed your kits, and your tradi onal stripes (blue and black). How did this story end?

At that me, the head coach who led the na onal team during the 2010 World Cup assigned Incheon coach. Fans expected him because he was a famous coach. But in 2012, he said: Some people said blue and black colors are tradi on, but I don't know who decided it. And changed the colors of kit to blue and red with no stripes. Even if it was only nine years, it was a history and tradi on that fans and club have made. The coach's remarks angered fans. There were jeers at the press conference. Fans boyco ed the purchase of uniforms and demanded the coach’s resigna on. In the end, the coach resigned because of protests from fans and poor performance. The club designed the uniform the following year based on the opinions of the fans.

Back to the history and results, how do you remember the drama c season (2005), can you tell us more? You have even a documentary film Fly Up about it, right?

97

As men oned earlier, community clubs are not rich. It is hard to expect a good ranking. But in 2005, the results were truly miraculous. Due to K League’s strange playoff system at that me, we lost the cup despite more points. Incheon had higher points in the regular season but lost the playoffs. Since 2005, we have not been in the top ranks. But then players became legends of Incheon United, and the spirit of ‘Fly Up’ became a keyword for Incheon United FC. S ll, many fans cry while watching documentary DVDs. I heard, that Frente Tricolor is the biggest one in South Korea, is it true? How does the scene look like in South Korea now?

Suwon Samsung has the largest fan group in Korea.

However, Suwon is also smaller than Europe and other Asian countries. Local football is not mainstream in Korea. But there are people with passion despite their small size. The lower league o en has ultras as well. Because of its small size, Korean ultras have more difficulty controlling fines and pyros. Korean fans used a lot of pyros un l 10 years ago. In Japan, pyro was banned much earlier than in Korea. So Japanese fans expected an away tour to Korea. It was because pyro was available in Korea at that me. But no more pyros can be found in Korean stadiums. If you use pyro, you have to pay a big fine.

As a part of Incheon United FC fans what inspires you?

Incheon fans are not the biggest. But I can confidently say that Incheon fans are the strongest in Korea. Incheon built the most wonderful stadium in Korea a few years ago. Fans also par cipated in the design of the south stand where they were located. Fans, players and club are all united under the name of Incheon United in the stadium. For financial reasons, it is difficult for Incheon United to recruit star players. So the youth system is very important. Incheon United fans o en visit and support at youth matches. Players who have grown up with Incheon United since they were young are now becoming professional players. In Incheon, fans, club and players grow together. Last year, a player who graduated from the youth system joined Bayern Munich. He has been wearing Incheon United's uniform since he was 12 years old. We are proud of him. Because we watched his growth. At the south stand of Incheon Football Stadium, I think I and my lads create culture. We don't just wear expensive clothes. We understand the meaning and context of them. We respect fan culture in Europe and around the world and recreate it in our own way. I would like to create a culture that can be enjoyed together by me and my next genera on in decades, not just a trend.

Please tell us, what a typical match day in Korea looks like? Where you meet, what you do, also a er the game, etc.?

Usually, at home matches, we get together two or three hours before the match. Because the gate opens two hours before the match. If it's not a big match, we don't get together earlier because the fans aren't big. Entering the stadium, we prepare banners, flags, drums, etc. And talk while drinking beer un l the match starts. A er the game, we go to a pub. The outcome of the game is not important. We always go to a pub. And eat and drink. In an away match, we gather in the home stadium much earlier and ride buses. Because Korea is not big, you can travel by bus except for going to the island.

Photo: Jiyou Kim

F

Henrik Ljusberg SWEDEN Nowadays I see that grafti is pretty similar to football, you get into a community and get friends that you work hard with to get the common goals with, good times and a lot of fun.

City: Östersund Born: 1992 Profession: Photographer Support: Östersund FK Other: Grafti Artist

Can you say about graffi : It made me what I am today?

How it’s affected you?

Graffi has definitely formed me into who I am and what I'm doing today. In my everyday life, I'm thinking from a graffi perspec ve. I look at places and environments in a different way I think, forms, architecture, colors, ideas, and I spend a lot of me pain ng and reading and also almost all my friends are graffi painters, and of course a bit paranoia. I also like to travel, and everywhere I go I can meet up with local writers and see the city that you don't do as a regular tourist.

How would you rate the current graffi

scene in

Sweden?

Let’s start with your roots. Famous: If Graffi Changed Anything- It Would Be Illegal, you agree with this?

I think graffi can be used as a tool, you are able to take your own place in an environment that is otherwise controlled. It is a free form of expression and I think it's interes ng to compare it to an adver sement that people don't even think about, but when they see graffi they can be very upse ng. And when it comes to poli cal graffi that has an important role. I think it's hard to imagine what graffi would be if it was legal, I know many writers, including me wouldn't have started with it if it was legal I guess. But then we would probably do worse things, it was a way of ge ng reac ons, be seen and be rebel when there was no other ways to go.

Sweden is a very long country and it is a really big difference in the regions. I come from a small city up north called Östersund, and I think I get big support from the city, making workshops, legal walls, etc. Meanwhile, in Stockholm, it has been zero tolerance for graffi since 2007 un l now. An they have their own vandal squad, etc. but I would say that it doesn't change the scene that much, only faster pain ngs maybe. Sweden has a strong scene overall, it paints a lot of everything, legal, illegal, big events, murals etc.

I was impressed by the last huge Maradona mural in Naples. Do you know any football murals in Sweden? I think I saw Zlatan mural in Malmö.

98

99

I know the Maradona mural in Naples, but I can't remember if seen any like that in Sweden. Some mes you can see pain ngs dedicated to a football player that has done something good, but no big murals like that.

You are from Östersund, right? How has this city influenced you?

Coming from a small city with a small graffi scene it has definitely influenced me in a lot of different ways if we talk about graffi the style of le ers always has its roots from where you start.

For example, I started to paint and copy the other graffi writers in Östersund and that's something you always will carry with you.

Because of the area of the city, you paint in a very different way than you do in a big city. You got to have a low profile if you want to paint much, you choose your spots carefully and it's important not doing too much damage at once. While in the bigger city you can paint much more and I would say the quan ty is more important than the quality.

What is the biggest difference between a small city like Östersund and a big one in Sweden, for example, Stockholm? I mean, when it comes to culture, people, behavior, etc.

I think there is a more compe ve side in the art culture in bigger ci es, you always want to be in the best galleries, there are a lot more people to compare with, and it's easy to be trapped somewhere in between that and just do what other people are doing. But at the same me, there is also much more inspiring to get, you can choose different ways to go within the cultures, and it's easier to be whoever you want to be that can be harder in a small city. In a small city, it's more like you work with all the others to create a stronger scene and you work more to get other people interested and so on.

culture was even more suitable if I like to drink a beer and watch a derby with my old man some mes.

Back to art, nowadays you work in the studio. How was your way/journey from graffi culture to photography?

It's a hard ques on, I'm s ll on the journey. It's not like I stop paint graffi just because I spend a lot of my me in the studio, I just try to be a li le bit quicker when I'm pain ng so I have me to take pictures of the other graffi painters. I have to do expressional things all the me, either if it is on a canvas, wall, photo, I probably don't spend one day without it, and I don't think about what phase I am in for the moment. I just try to do things, create stuff and then maybe I go back to other technics later, mix the media and so on.

Do you have any ar s c authori es? For example, I really like Julia He a and her portraits.

A lot of people influence me and nowadays with social media you see good things all day and it's hard to name one person. But I would say I get most inspired by people and things that have nothing to do with what I'm doing.

Photo: Henrik Ljusberg

The only thing about Östersund I know, is the football team. They played against Arsenal in Europa League. Do you support them? In general, do you watch football?

Nowadays I think a lot of people recognize Östersund as a football city and most of the people from the city started to watch football. It's basically something you hear about every day and the newspaper wri ng about it all the me, so I can't say I'm not star ng to feel something, some pride of the football team. My father is also a football fana c, I grew up with football and watched a lot of games, but I never got the real interest but of course it's fun when Östersund is winning. I can tell a secret that I sold some paint to some Hertha Berlin ultras when they were in Östersund if that says something.

Do you have some stories with your father, related to football and watching games, can you tell us a li le bit more about his passion for football?

My father has been playing football and coaching different teams his whole life, and of course, he was trying to get me to play football under my whole childhood. I also started every year in football school, and I stayed there for the first three weeks before we got our match shirts, then I quilted. Every year the same.

Nowadays I see that graffi is pre y similar to football, you get into a community and get friends that you work hard with to get the common goals with, good mes and a lot of fun. So I'm not saying that I don't get the football world, but for me, I guess the graffi

100

BELGIA Jacques Massart

ENGLAND Ryan Walsh

TUNISIA Abdelkarim Benabdallah

PANAMA Alessandra Mezquita

102

103

G

Jacques Massart BELGIUM

Wi t h o u t t h a t k i n d o f g r o u p , w i t h o u t t h e s e g r o u p s , football is much less festive and fun in the stands.

City: Liège Born: 1963 Profession: RSCL Speaker Support: Standard Liège Other: DJ

To be the official RSCL speaker, what does it mean to you?

A great honor and a great pleasure! I am the official speaker of RSCL since 2002 and s ll love it so much as when I start.

How much radio work helped in being an speaker and how would you compare these two works?

Comparate is not easy but I can say that speaking without prepara on is easy for me. Spontaneity is very important for both jobs. Then because I did for a long me (30 years) in radio, that s ll help me now as a speaker.

Aside from your work, how much you are associated with the club and the city?

Very much! Seriously, almost every day someone is talking to me about RSCL and my job Liège is my city since I was born, then I know a lot of people and now, a lot of people knows me.

As a speaker, I’m guessing you are close to the fans. You have awesome ultras groups, like Ultras Inferno 1996. What is the opinion in Belgium about such groups?

My opinion is that without that kind of group, without these groups, football is much less fes ve and fun in the stands!

I heard that the first Belgian hooligan group was founded in Antwerp. A er the European match Antwerp FC- Aston Villa in 1975, the Antwerp supporters were a acked by the English Hooligans, so they had to defend themselves. The fana c group from Antwerp then called themselves X-side. Is it true, and can we say that present groups in Belgium are inspired mainly by England?

I did not know this story! So it's hard for me to comment on this. But I s ll think that English football certainly did not need Belgium to invent hooligans.

But this was all to change in 1985 a er the tragic events at Heysel Stadium in Brussels. How this night is perceived today in Belgium and what effects it has brought and what memories do you have?

104

Everything changed that day indeed! It is always the biggest tragedy about this disaster in Belgium. Personally, I remember that very well, I lived it watching the match live! The horror.

Flares, fo, vocal support, banners, pyro. What do you like the most and what is the most important part of the suppor ng for you?

Very difficult to choose between all this! I have a preference for everything but especially the vocal support of the fans during the match! It's really the 12th man!

About the na onal Belgium team, how would you compare the atmosphere (in the context of your work) when it comes to suppor ng, speaker job, fans etc.

It's similar and different at the same me! Similar because the fans have the chance for the moment to have great Belgian players to support. The Red Devils are of an excep onal genera on! Different because there are less games per season and less opportunity to party, but it's just as intense.

You are also a music DJ, right? Do you play or played in some clubs in Belgium, where we can find you?

Exact! I played and I play in different clubs in Belgium, in par es and in some fes vals too. Fes mix many mes, a very good fes val in the region of Liège. But I also played in Germany, France, Holland, Luxembourg, Spain. I have traveled a lot as a DJ. Can you give us one song from your latest playlist?

Only one? Not easy: for the moment I like enough: Dannic & Silvio Ecomo- In No Dip. As a speaker did you have some funny stories?

Of course, a lot! The most beau ful and the most fes ve will remain secret, they are obviously mostly related to par es a er tles. But also the moments when the players take the microphone and do a part of my job in the stadium.

Photo: Jacques Massart

„ [The stands atmosphere at both national team and league] is similar and different at the same time!

Similar because the fans have the chance for the moment to have great Belgian players to support. The Red Devils are of an exceptional generation!

Different because there are less games per season and less opportunity to party, but it's just as intense.

105

G

Ryan Wa l s h ENGLAND

I've found it's part of the culture in our country to build people up and then tear them down.

City: Rochdale Born: 1986 Profession: Boxer Support: Mancester United FC Other: British featherweight champion since 2015 How it started with United, everyone in your family are United fans?

No my uncles all support Liverpool they’ve tried many me to convert us but me, my two brothers, all our kids and funnily enough my cousin to one of the uncles who tried to convert us are big united fans. For me personally it’s all down to one man why I love United and number 7- King Eric Cantona.

Do you go to see matches live and do you have some stories from stadiums?

Two live games 1 cup game, 1 preseason friendly a li le closer to home (Peterborough) I live 5/6 hours away by car, unfortunately. I also went with my twin brother & my son on the stadium tour, something I highly recommend to any United fan. It

was a great day. Whilst standing with the away fans against Peterborough listening/singing songs. The proper away faithful started on Liverpool really made me chuckle, away fans are the best most funniest bunch (well they were).

The best tournament you can remember.

My favorite was 1998 Owens magic goal against Argen na. I watched it in Holland on a school trip it was a great goal, unfortunately, Beckham made a rash decision and the rest is history.

You men oned about 1988 Beckham red card. I remember watching The Class of 92, The Mirror cover: 10 Heroic Lions, One Stupid Boy. He was also men oning about bullets in his mailbox.

I was young so I was gu ed and disappointed by his ac ons, as a adult now and a professional sportsman I totally understand he’s human and just had a mad moment. I really think it helped him develop as a player and person.

The same Phil Neville for giving away a penalty against Romania. It shows how much a football means to people, but also how people can be mean and aggressive. How would you deal with such situa ons?

I've found it's part of the culture in our country to build people up and then tear them down, I’m not a fan. The football fans at their Best are great but I’m them situa ons they let themselves down.

106

107

Is it similar in the box a er the defeats?

It’s nowhere near as bad it’s far more personal but in the media sense and with the fans I feel there far more suppor ve.

Why everyone in England always thinks about medals?

Because we have one of the (if not the best) League in the world - the Premier League. We are used to great football and expect our na onal team to be equal unfortunately the bulk of the players that make the Premier League so good play for other countries. Great for club fan, terrible for Na onal team fans. I think England have underperformed since euro 96 personally.

From the perspec ve of an athlete, what is the biggest problem with the English team and players?

The biggest problem is the rivalry at club level mixed with managers no being able to get the club form out of the players while wearing the na onal shirt. When I watched Ian Wright and Stuart Pearce, I think (passion) them two would play for England for free, that has been seriously lacking and needs to be addressed. There’s seem to be a serious absence of pride! There could also be fa gue as the seasons seem to be longer and harder today and with no winter break, this could be affec ng our boys.

You, Michael and Liam, are professional boxers. With Liam, you became the first twins to hold Bri sh tles at the same me. It does not happen o en.

I’m very lucky with my brothers, we win together and we learn (lose) together. Boxing under these rules 1887 ll present, I believe we are the first to do it. It’s a very difficult belt to win it’s very pres gious and leads to bigger be er tles because with being champion you get a good European ranking. We had a li le luck also. I hope I’m alive to see the next set do it. I’ve just watched two twins in the commonwealth games the McCormack’s one got gold the other bronze maybe they do it.

What was the reason, to start boxing?

My dad was the boxing fan so he’s the only reason we know/knew what it was/is he never forced us I started late at 14 but my dad had us in gloves while in nappies, boxers are taught fighters are born and if you can do a bit of both you’ll be successful in this sport/business.

Since 2015, you have the Bri sh featherweight tle.

What is the most difficult to stay on top and defend the belt?

Boxing is a young man’s sport and business so staying on top with these young hungry lions is definitely the most difficult although saying that you can’t buy experience, you have to earn and learn that.

Also, I play football for my best friends local team that has given me some great memories and laughs away from boxing.

What's that local team you play? It's a Sunday League team? How does it look like?

My local team is a Saturday team called Runton United.

We’re in a poor league with a great team we win everything well nearly everything last year we lost at Norwich’s Carrow Road in the final of the best tournament at our level, me and Liam had to watch in the stands as we were figh ng a week a er.

In the 80s and 90s, English fans were famous around the World. However, today it is quite different. Famous Forest Execu ve Crew member – Boatsy – told me: We’ve all grown up and have families. It’s not cool to be a 50-year-old hooligan, is it? Just not cool anymore. Is it no longer exci ng as it once was?

I totally agree boys turn into men then it becomes pre y pathe c to act that way.

Tony Bellew - Everton, David Haye - Millwall, James DeGale - Arsenal, Kell Brook - Sheffield United. What makes boxing and football so close to each other?

Footballers are ul mately individuals who certainly seem to enjoy boxing and quite a few have glove up. Wayne Rooney did a few rounds with Ha on and was famously KO’d/knocked down in an online video. He used that for a celebra on I thought it showed great humor, I like Rooney. Boxing is today working class sport and football has always been seen as that, that why I think both are supported really well and passionately. Well our fans the Farmy Army are something else, the best in my biased opinion.

O en the boxers fought their first fights during matches as fans. Was it similar in your case?

No not really, not for me but many a fight has started over football as youngsters, it’s a very emo onal sport. Although I will say I made a very good friend in just that type of scenario, me and my two brothers played two others brothers they went on to play for Norwich at every level bar the first team. Long story short they whooped us at footy and we whooped them at boxing a er.

(True story) one of the brothers is one of my very best friends has been for 20yrs I’ve played a fair few games with him for school and for my best mates local team Travelled the world with him and he’s not missed too many of our fights he’s a top lad and both our sports made us the mates we are today.

Photo: Ryan Walsh

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Simple my family and I don’t just mean my 5 children I have 11 nieces & nephews and 9 of those live next door and 30 yards away. It’s a dream come true living together like this we’re in the process of building my Mum a house on site so then it’ll be perfect.

You said one: What makes me happy is figh ng, to be in good fights on big shows which is what I'm grateful for with this.

But in addi on to boxing, what gives you the greatest pleasure?

108

109

G

Abdelkarim Benabdallah TUNISIA

Whenever I go to small villages and smaller cities people tend to ask me to take photos of them, and they usually inset to offer drinks and lunch.

City: Menzel-Temine Born: 1976 Profession: Communications . .

Specialist Support: Stade Zaghouanai Other: Photographer

Living in Tunisia, photographing everyday life, what are you trying to pay the most a en on to?

People, mostly faces. Portraiture is both challenging and extremely beau ful hard to get because people are not usually okay with you taking their photo without permission and it won't be any natural if you ask for and remember that in the medina be er not have a big camera which would be quite disturbing for people that why I’m a using a pre y compact hybrid Olympus Epl-2 with a 7 Ar sans 35:1.2 or my Leica 24:1.4 lenses that helps me capture the best of the beau ful faces without a lot of pain just a few seconds to focus and it's done!

As a photographer, how to ďŹ nd beauty in everyday life?

Simply by walking the streets, the markets and the public events

Your favorite place in Tunisia to doolesha?

The old medina. I love the old medina because it's made of narrow streets that are well protected from the sun and the rain oering the perfect condi ons for excellent photos and because it's a unique place where you will see a lot of people all along the wee, the markets are the best spot for portrait photos because the merchants like to see people taking photos as part of the promo on of their city and you can easily spot portraiture within the crowds. My best stop at the medina is the old Anba cafe hidden inside a set of narrow streets where I like to take a tea and check my photos I usually don't have any plans, I usually follow my ins nct.

So, photography is the best way to capture this one special moment?

Absolutely, I'm doing videos as well but damn, the photo speaks way louder and clear than any mo on. The mo on never been able to create a unique momentum like photography simply because the magic of the situa on is illustrated into one single frame with a million ques ons, a shade of lights, shapes and story behind that you everybody is free to tell as they like, that's why I like to make stories using a set of photos rather than videos, a lifeless photo has more life on it than any video clip.

110

What photography can teach us about ourselves?

Pa ence, the willing to get in touch with people, the beauty of everyday simple things and how to get the best of what people think that's boring.

You have taken many photos, can you tell us some stories that are behind them?

I was arrested several mes by the police because taking photos in public. Before the revolu on in 2011 was not okay with the police, in the other side I went to Bizerte to take some photos and I was invited by everybody for a tea and take photos.

So you have some adventures, right?

Yeah, like when I'm ge ng arrested by the police every me I'm taking photos (before 2011) of the streets of the French style old downtown mostly every night a er enjoying some beer with friends: while I’m walking down the streets and taking beau ful low light photos, a police car popups and the officer asks me to both my camera and my ID and since I was a bit drunk I wasn't in midated and showed both, he even enjoyed the photos and he suddenly smiled and asked me to take care, this happened so many mes that they ended up not caring much about night photo trip. Whenever I go to small villages and smaller ci es people tend to ask me to take photos of them, their houses and the stuff they like and they usually inset to offer drinks and even lunch and if I refused they would be upset that's why I never said to delicious meal from generous people.

So, how would you describe Tunisian society?

A bit conserva ve but usually open and modern, the best way to gain their confidence is to try to talk with them.

In your opinion, what makes a photo perfect?

The momentum.

Learning is a long journey that never ends - the most important thing you've learned so far?

The gear doesn't ma er but helps a lot, street photography is the most challenging and the best way to learn photography as it should.

I like a photo from your Instagram, where kids are playing football in Nabeul. When I was in Morocco, I saw exactly the same picture.

It's simply a second religion.

I’m not sure if you are a football fan. But if you are, please tell us which club you support and what do you think about football, do you go to see matches, some stories from stadiums?

Well, I don't like going much to the stadiums (because you can't get good photos if you're a spectator faraway) but I was there several mes, I prefer going to the streets and shoot kids instead.

Photo: Abdelkarim Benabdallah

111

„ Whenever I go to small villages and smaller cities people tend to ask me to take photos of them, their houses and the stuff they like (...) and if I refused, they would be upset.

G

Alessandra Mezquita PA N A M A Car stereos were playing music, people brought their coolers and drinks and the party continued until the morning hours. The city was paralyzed.

City: Panama City Born: 1983 Profession: Journalist/TV Host Support: San Francisco FC Other: the title of Señorita Panamá Universo Your father was a sportsman, right? How it affected you and do you have some stories from his career and your childhood?

My father who is a Neurosurgeon was actually on the Panama Na onal Volleyball team, and although I remember him doing sports as a child it was actually my two older brothers who got me into sports and into football. We would always kick a ball around in our front yard, they taught me how to play, and my eldest brother was actually my football coach when I was a young girl. The three of us would go to Futbol prac ce and games together.

You graduated Sports Management. Why did you choose this major and why do you like it so much?

I actually graduated from Mass Media Studies, but we had to choose a minor to accompany our major, and I chose Sports Management because I love sports. I knew that I wanted to work in sports and media and that would be the perfect compliment.

When I got my degree almost 13 years ago there were not as many Sports Management programs as there are now, I think it's fascina ng how the business of sport has grown and developed and will con nue to do so.

And now you are so close to football culture, you covered events such as CONCACAF Gold Cup 2011, FIFA U20 WC Colombia 2011, and London Olympic Games 2012. Which one of them you remember best and did you have some funny stories/situa ons?

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to cover so many events, it's very exci ng to be there repor ng in the middle of all the ac on. One of my favorites was the 2012 London Olympic games. There is something very magical about the Olympics, the atmosphere, the fans, the athletes, and the opportunity to cover so many sports. London was an amazing city to be in. A funny story from London, we would take buses from the Interna onal Broadcast Centre at around midnight back to our hotels about 30 minutes from the Olympic Park, these were shu les provided by the LOC. One night 30 minutes passed, then 40 minutes passed, then 1 hour. Everyone started asking the driver what was going on. He was lost. He was not from London and was embarrassed to ask for help. We had to tell him how to get to our stop because we already knew the route. We got to the hotel at around 2 am.

But none of the events seems to be so important like the last Panama promo on to the World Cup in Russia. How was it celebrated in Panama?

The country went wild. Before the game, Panama didn't know if we would be eliminated, going to playoffs, or even qualify

112

113

directly. When the final whistle blew fans at the stadium were jumping and screaming and asking the press, are we going to playoffs or directly to Russia? When they started realizing that it was directly to the World Cup it was all tears. Then people took the celebra ons to the street, which is a common thing in Panama. Car stereos were playing music, people brought their coolers and drinks and the party con nued un l the morning hours. The city was paralyzed. The following day was given as a holiday. It felt like Christmas. Panama got the gi they had always wanted.

Is a big thing for the country, but Baseball remains the most important sport in Panama, right?

That depends on who you ask! It has been a debate over the last few years. Baseball and Boxing have been the tradi onal sports of Panama. But football has grown so much in popularity in the last decade that it makes for a good debate. The Na onal Futbol Team is extremely popular, the Na onal Baseball Team not so much. The Na onal Futbol League has barely any fans, but the Na onal Baseball championship fills stadiums. It is a strange phenomenon.

Let’s say for example, if Blas Peres score a goal at the final of World Cup in Russia, and you win, he become a bigger hero than Mariano Rivera? Is there any chance that football will ever be more popular than a baseball?

It is actually happening right now. Roman Torres scored the goal that qualified Panama to the World Cup. He is everywhere in Panama. You turn on the TV and he is in 5 out of 8 commercial spots. He is on bus stops, billboards. He is the man of the moment.

Panama will always have heroes that will never lose their place and are a reference at an interna onal level, such as Mariano Rivera, and Roberto Mano de Piedra Duran. They had amazing careers in their sport, they were winners and amazing sportsmen. We also have Irving Saladino who gave us an Olympic Gold Medal. But right now in this moment, all eyes are on football and the World Cup, and Roman is the man of the moment.

What do you think was the main reason that you were promoted to Russia, and not the USA? That is a tricky ques on! Luck had a lot to do with it. The USA had beat us 4-0 a few days earlier. But then failed to pick up points against Trinidad and Tobago. Panama had a Phantom Goal that never crossed the goal line but put us ed with Costa Rica before Roman Torres scored the game winner. The stars were aligned for Panama that night. The qualifiers in CONCACAF were very irregular as far as results or a clear domina ng team during the final round, with perhaps the excep on of Mexico who qualified early. The ckets to Russia were up for grabs by Costa Rica, Panama, USA, and Honduras. In 2013 it did not happen, but in 2017 everything went right for Panama.

So you were in Russia recently, how was it and what you liked the most there?

I have been to Russia 3 mes now leading up to this World Cup. I was in St.Petersburg for the Preliminary Draw in 2015 and saw it all come full circle with the Final Draw the last December in Moscow and hearing Panama being called for their first World Cup. Every me I have gone it is fascina ng. The first me I was a bit scared I must admit, not really knowing what to expect, how

people would treat you, if they spoke English, if I would like the food. But Russia is amazing! It's an experience within itself, especially when you travel to other ci es, and are able to see how rich it is culturally. It's a mysterious yet cap va ng country.

What do you think, the Panama fans who will go to Russia, what will they find there, which may be the biggest problem?

Panama fans adapt really well. They are happy and want to have a good me, and are very friendly. The biggest problem for them will perhaps be how strict everything is in Russia and how not all Russians will be smiling back at them with everything they do.

The language barrier will also be a problem because not everyone in Russia speaks English, especially in the smaller ci es, so some things may end up being frustra ng like ordering a meal or speaking to a taxi driver. But they will manage.

Let’s talk about the Liga Panameña de Fútbol now, how many fans go to football matches? Which club you support? And what it looks like, I guess it’s not like ultras groups in Europe or barra bravas in South America.

The Liga Panameña de Futbol is the complete opposite of the Na onal Team. It has struggled for years to have the same popularity, and even though for tournament finals there are some mes good numbers as far as the assistance of fans, in this regular season matches averaged 100-800 fans. Clubs do not have their own stadiums or training grounds, and few have a real iden ty with their community. I support the San Francisco F.C. from La Chorrera, I had the opportunity to work with the club for a year, and win a Championship. Some teams have organized fan groups or barras but they are not really bravas. These barras are more about singing and having a good me and pu ng their banners and adding color to the games. Even though most of them are not that big barras like the Albinegra or the Barra Atlan ca from Colon do a great job. The Na onal Team also has their barras, and a lot of them will be traveling to Russia, you will see them on TV, they will be the ones having a good me at the stadium enjoying every minute no ma er the result.

In your opinion, what was the biggest change in the league or generally Panamanian football in recent mes?

The biggest change in Panamanian football in recent mes as been players becoming true professionals, by having a greater opportunity to leave Panama and really develop. Most of our players would develop their skills at an older age and at a local level, now there is an effort being made to find and develop players at a much younger age, and find them opportuni es to play at greater leagues at a younger age. Before the Na onal Team would only have a few players playing in leagues in South America or Europe, now 90% of the Na onal Team plays in the MLS, South America or Europe.

Photo: Susana Aramburú (@ptyology)

114

POLAND Matchday Mag

COLUMBIA Manuel Vélez Arboleda

SENEGAL Lionel Mandeix

JAPAN Billy

116

117

H

Matchday Mag POLAND

We l c o m e t o Po l a n d .

Let’s just grab a couple of beers, sit back and complain.

City: Worldwide Born: 2016 Profession: Ofcial Casual Magazine Support: Matchday FC Other: Music - Art - Football D: So far, it’s l ng at windmills, the casual culture will never be accepted in Poland. And every a empt will be like a cheap tragicomedy.

K: It’ll catch up sooner or later, why not. But that’s gonna be hick and folksy as always.

The more popular the culture will get, the more eastern european mindset will be taking over it, to finally end up as a naive imita on. That resembles a bit of what we’re star ng to see in Poland- some lone bogans fascinated in a couple pictures from Instagram, trying to become similar and impress friends...

What I’m saying is that just by buying a Stone Island hoodie or Oasis CD you’ll never become nothing more than just a wanna-be. A culture -casual or any other - is a complex social construct, incubated and shaped by a wide range of economical, poli cal or regional condi ons and events. A fully developed and crystallised culture can never be en rely transferred onto any other different

reality just like that. It takes a bloody lot of me and may never adapt properly. Or may adapt in a hick manner?

Hick- this is the key word. Polish culture prac cally always resembles a yokel fes val. Weszło editor (note: Polish sport website), Jakub Olkiewicz, told me once in a private conversa on we had that he wrote hundreds of texts- many of them great - he devoted a lot of me and prepara on to them, and yet nobody even paid a en on to it. And when he appeared for a few seconds in the video on the popular YT groundhopping channel, suddenly he got a million congratula ons messages from viewers.

Paradoxically, everyone hates Peszko (note: footballer) and can’t understand why he is playing in the na onal team, but ‘Peszkin’ is for me an image of a Polish fans and culture. The same applies to supporters, especially the radical ones: what counts is mostly poli cs, arguments and their opinion. The culture would poten ally accompany this, but it really becomes secondary. It is said that the stadium will never be a theater, but for me however it's indeed a theater, except that it's closer to the Globe Theater than La Scala.

Yeah, right. By the way there’s something more typical for our understanding of a culture. It is o en mistaken for something you do just to show off, i.e. once in a while. But the culture itself shall be treated as lifestyle- it’s not enough to wear Fred Perry once in a bloody quarter and call yourself a casual. You need to submerge in the culture, the style needs to sink in. See hiphop- a lot of people just lives by, discovering and living the

118

culture non-stop. Music, graffi , bboying, DJ-ing, etc. In case of football- its treated as recurring thing, you know- cyclical. To go see the game and then back to everyday boring life for a week, forge n’ about everything ll next matchday.

That is why the idea of Matchday has never been connected with Poland and I maintain the opinion that we would like to show Polish people the casual culture and typical UK matchday, but with each day this idea falls at the end of my list. This is a fu le mission. A er I got some contacts, met people who are close to football, I feel disgusted with this world (I’m referring to my last text in the Casual Classic series). Everyone judges everybody, keeps clannish, with poli cs behind everything.

Other thing is that any football publica ons or journals are only mainstream focussed. You talk about football, you gonna talk about Messi/Ronaldo rivalry, Salah’s great shape or Lewandowski’s goals in Munich. Besides- tac cs, transfers, sensa ons, memes. Seems like no one cares about texts more ambi ous or aspiring. * * * This is the way to shape yokels through the media. And it is not that we are going to change Poland and Polish people. I know the Li le Prince for a long me and just like him I care only for my own garden. I have stopped following Polish media, websites, profiles, journalists. And somehow I am be er person, for sure my life is easier. Recently, the famous English commentator John Motson re red. Class, culture and competence. And here we arewith the mass media role-model Tomasz Hajto, who barely speak proper Polish, and recently, had to leave the live audi on hungover, I guess to throw up.... How did it end? They turned it into a joke and in a week he appeared again, instruc ng the players how to they have to take care of their shape.

I have an idea, maybe let's turn our football/culture into a joke. Oh wait, it is already...

opinion that it has is not related to casual style at all, unless we openly admit: “Here we are, in the land of Pitbull and Prosto tracksuits and right wing patrio sm, where being drunk and showing off your poli cal views is what we consider essen al to build our culture on.” Sure, you can find two, three people with Stone Island or Fred Perry polo, they will have a pictures of them taken to has a nice to upload to Facebook, but what is the goal?

What is funny, just before the new deal, PFC posted a text about the Polish Football Federa on and our new kits, saying that they did the shirts for 30+ rednecks, and the project is a shit. Well, I'm asking, making a deal with Prosto, who are they targe ng?

Maybe we should start off with this- we want everybody reading this hate to know that we don’t think that there are no casuals in Poland, and if any- they should immediately be considered silly. Definitely not. We know all of Matchday readers are deeply into casual style, perfectly understand the culture and live by it. This can be perfectly seen when looking at pics being uploaded on our facebook. This is however all about individuals.

That’s the keyword- individuals. Although we simply do not believe that Poland is a proper fer le ground for casual style as we know it form England. Looking back into the roots, we can say in a huge abbrevia on, that casual arose from idea of some lads trying to blending into the crowd and avoid the police by dropping of the clothes typical for that me hooligans and swinging into exclusive, expensive brands, not associated with stadiums at all. What happens in Poland now (I’m talking about the collabora on you’ve men oned above and earlier collab with PGW) is a complete reversal and a walking circles around ‘gopnik’ style (eastern Europe chav). And that’s the very head of a needle- casual style did not even managed to se le down for good, and it already was turned into hickish parody.

Photo: Photos sent by our fans.

I’m far from thinking that football culture has to be some high sophis cated culture. However keeping the media broadcast at at least a bit higher level than the gu er has to sooner or later induce the seek for something more than just a cheap sensa on within the subject. That’d give underpin the iden ty and made it easier to express your lifestyle through football. Simply because a cri cal lack of more cultured atmosphere around our football, ar sts or top journalists (non sport-related) rarely treat it as source of inspira on, what lead to the point, where neither the creators, nor the spectators are interested in some high class material, and therefore we are sentenced to read about Ronaldo’s new cars.

Brief example: remember my text about “Drawing the 92” album? (impressionist pictures with english stadiums, marvelous). I guess that book, especially with its price would be a same sensa on as recently released photo album “Polish Coal Mines” (irony). Of course some people would buy and enjoy it (probably the same people that buys our Magazine), but the book would be barely no ced.

PFC (Polish Football Casuals brand) announced a deal with Prosto (streetwear brand) just the other day. I have not seen the effects yet, so I will not rate the product. However, the idea of joining forces with the Prosto seems logical and deliberate. Range, money, development, everything is logical. However, Prosto and

119

H

Manuel Vélez Arboleda COLUMBIA

Andres Escobar after US A 94, he died for making an own goal in a WC, like that is important football to Colombia.

City: Manizales Born: 1988 Profession: Film Director Support: CA Atlético Nacional . .de Medellín Other: Directed DAZE/L A 3 3 What is experimental film for you?

An experimental film for me is an audiovisual work that does not obey to the usual ways, break rules of this language, dare to be mock or praise, taken for a fool or a crazy person, it's being an outsider of the establishment but learn how and when to use it.

So what influenced you or what happened that you choose it? Because we can say that your first films were kind of experimental, right?

At start I began my search of an ar s c path, if you like, in pain ng, I also all my life were a drawer, and when i make my first video I don’t had no clue how to execute it, don’t know how to edit but always were a fan of cinema I even foundate te cineclub in art school so I plan and draw everything according to what I want to say in the work, I found that was some sort of my natural habitat, it

turns easier in some way and intui ve to work speaking in this language, at first i worked with a couple of brothers Friends of my but with me I learn more, I begin direc ng, wri ng, ac ng and making some effects, with me I also get to do camera, edi ng, producing beside the other labors, I s ll work with a team but I execute different roles depending the needs of that Project in par cular.

What do you want to express with your videos?

I feel my work express how I feel being Colombian, live in here, concerned about my context, acknowledge that not everybody has the same opportuni es because a social despair was seeded in this country, mainly by the lack of educa on, the role as a creator as filmmaker as an ar st is awake minds, but in a poor land what could you seed? In Colombia, we live in the Allegory of the Cave by Plato.

One of your short films, DAZE, show us November 6th, 1985, tragic day for Colombia. When Palace of Jus ce was a acked by the M-19 group, and Noemi Sanin, the Minister of Telecommunica ons, interrupted the live transmission of the capture and football game between Millos and Union was shown.

I think it's pathe c, the journalist who give up to the pressure, the Colombians because in late 90’s she were a presiden al candidate, a person with that record of censorship would be very damagefull for the country something in common with most of the presidents and poli cians in Colombia, or maybe that's a requirement to be president of Colombia. A lot of people didn't know about this detail and others stories related to football

120

121

as a distractor element in Colombia, like the Copa America in 2001 that Colombia won at the end of a successful peace process with la Guerrilla FARC and also an unsuccessful presidentship by Andrés Pastrana Arango, son of Misael Pastrana Borrero also a former president of Colombia because in Colombia we don’t have a monarchy or novelty state but to be someone in poli cs you have to wear an important family name.

What do you think, why they decided to show football game and why this par cular match?

That game, in par cular, was an important game at finals of the Colombian tournament but they just need other things to show because one of the biggest mistakes of a Colombian government and military leaders were perpetrated at that moment, but the images I show and interfere in a college way are Carlos el Pibe Valderrama know for his hairstyle and also for his technique with the ball the main characteris c in our way to play and Freddy Eusebio Rincón first Colombian player in Real Madrid and scorer of the most important goal in a WC, 1- 1 against Germany in the 89 minute in Milano in Italy 90, the second could be the only olympic goal in a WC against URSS in Chile, the third to finish the rank James against Uruguay in Brazil. I used this icons to show how this brilliant genera on had to deal to live in one of the most darks ages of our country, in the video it's also shown the Armero tragedy, the volcano Nevado del Ruiz near my city erupted the same week of the Palace events (same year), the town of Armero was almost erased and some of the rescuers took a pause foresee the Colombian match to qualified to Italy 90.

Football is treated like a religion in Colombia, right?

In Colombia football is very important, maybe not like in Argen na or Brazil but s ll, you can always watch people of any age playing in fields, or in the street but not so much like before because of the social media, but certainly it's a huge passion with pros n cons, a big Con is Barras Bravas the la n Hooligans in Colombia is becoming a social issue, not like Argen na that is a real mafia but here is trying`but the context is other, here exists real Mafias that makes seem hooligans nuns also teams don't have the Budget like in Argen na and the tradi onal treat like there with the barra, here the owners or workers of the teams don't usually do business with them like in Argen na. To me is a passion of 90 minutes, I played for a lot of years when I was a kid and a teenager un l I injured my knees the matches I played where reduc ng in my mid twen es to zero, I enjoy watch ght games of the Bundesliga, the Premier League or Calcio.

The world cup is great party where all want to celebrate but not always like that but like life gives you another chance, in France 98 I cried with Faryd Mondragon when Beckham’s England beat us but in Brazil 14 I leak tears of joy when David Ospina was subs tuted by Mondragon becoming the oldest player in a WC, football is important to me like that, in the field, 90 minutes, beside that nobody deserves to die because a football game, like Andres Escobar a er USA 94, he died for making an own goal in a WC, like that is important football to Colombia.

Do you know other example where football has been used like that?

Football has been and would used as a distrac on in any la n or poor country, in Argen na 78 they were in the middle of a military dictatorship, people forgot about it for those months,

forgot the missings, the corrupt, something like that happened in Brazil in World Cup Mexico 70.

Your next movie, I really like, is LA 33. It’s about the final game of the neighborhood tournament, can you tell us something about it? The rules, history background etc.?

LA 33 was shooted at neighborhood El Carmen where tradi onally the tournament is played in teams form by block, the main tournament is played in december so with final awards the New Year can be celebrate with the food, buzz and the pig that is like Turkey to the people of USA but in november in thanksgiving, LA 33 are from 33th Street they play as visitor in the final.

This kind of tournament it’s popular in Columbia? Do you watch games like this?

The neighborhood tournament is very popular but not all the neighborhoods had it, in a middle city like my own a couple of tradi onal tournaments is played but hey are football tournaments in every circle of society, in the job, school, friends, school friends, well all the varia ons possible. I don't watch a lot of games like this and LA 33 is a register of a football party very difficult to recreate, the funny story is recorded they have to get the pig from the football field to their block while that happen they drink all the buzz they won, by the me to celebrate the cameras went ba ery death and also us with the amount of celebra on with LA 33.

What team you support and why?

In Colombia I support Club Atlé co Nacional de Medellín because of my older brother, it's the most winner in the local tournament and also the only Colombian team in win two Libertadores Cup 1988 and 2016, even though I’m from Manizales and the other team that has a Libertadores in Colombia is Once Caldas is not that big as Nacional but has a story build of their own and been football as such an important cultural ma er in think it would be a good way to impact posi ve in society, give educa on to kids of the region with sports scholarships like in La Masia in Barcelona, in River Plate, Boca Juniors and other Argen nians clubs does it too and what if they focus to impact the society and not to win tournaments at whatever it takes?

Last World Cup in Brazil was really good for you, quarterfinal was OK I think, but how this tournament was received?

Quarter finals in a World Cup against Brazil in Brasil off course is a great result but if you watch the game everyone was mad, everybody thought that a be er result could be possible and more when Germany beats like that to Brazil, but in retrospec ve it was a good result but in the field it don’t, a e would be fair but football is not fair.

Do you have some stories from last World Cup? In Colombia in elec ons the state calls people in public service, teachers, students, last World Cup I was reunited with my friends and we all have to work in elec ons the day before Colombia’s debut game, we as friends never watched a Colombia World Cup game together a er twenty years of friendship, and football unite us a lot, that silly dream of share a World Cup for us has accomplished, we celebrate the goals against Greece, got drunk and went to the next day with a massive hangover to contribute to the democracy.

Photo: Juan Waltero

122

123

H

Lionel Mandeix SENEGAL A f t e r t h e v i c t o r y o f S e n e g a l a g a i n s t Fr a n c e , people were walking with chickens in their hands!

City: Thionville/Dakar Born: 1966 Profession: Photographer Support: Olympique de Ngor Other: Ofcial Photographer of the President of Republic of Senegal You had the opportunity to do a photo-shoot during the Trophy Tour WC 2018 in Senegal. Can you tell us what emo ons prevailed that day? Do you have any stories from that day?

Yes, the event took place in front of the President. In the street hundreds of aficionados were present, all in the colors of Senegal with a lot of body pain ng. Two magical moments I have marked this day. First- the 12th Gaindé which means the 12th Lion, who symbolizes all the Senegalese fans, it's our 12th player and member of the team. The second fact that I marked was the presence of supporters of the club Casamance (South of Senegal).

The Allez Casa is an excellent mix of sports and culture on a musical background of drums, djembes, flutes, etc. When they move, you are in trance.

What does it mean to be in World Cup for Senegal people?

A great pride! Football is the second na onal sport a er the Senegalese fight (LAMB in Wolof).

You are close to the President of Senegal. Can we say, that sport brings poli cians and ordinary people closer?

The President loves and knows that football makes the rela onship more sincere and frank with the people.

The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, is he a big football supporter?

Yes, during the last qualifying matches, he had me come home at half- me to congratulate the na onal team via social networks. The President follows the news of Senegalese and interna onal football. He has a lot of friends and o en meets footballers like El Hadji Diouf, Samuel Eto'o, Khalilou Fadiga and more. Recently his close friend, former footballer Georges Weah has become President of Liberia.

Do you know any interes ng stories from the president's mee ngs with the footballers? Maybe he had already, the opportunity to congratulate and talk to George Whea?

We met President Georges Weah at his inaugura on at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia on January 22nd 2018. The President Macky Sall also met the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, they share their na onal football t-shirt during an official visit in Tokyo in December 2017. Just to remind you Japan and Senegal will meet for the World Cup on June 24th 2018.

124

How will the ci es look like during the World Cup? Will it be like one big party?

Senegalese flags all over the cars and then horn concerts on every goal! The German embassy in Senegal is repain ng its vehicles in the manner of the Senegalese cars rapides and the colors of the Mannscha .

Do you have any memories of 2002 World Cup? It was a great team with El Hadji Diouf, Aliou Cisse, and Henri Camara.

I arrived in Senegal in 2005, but my friends told me incredible scenes. There is a large French community in Senegal and a er the victory of Senegal against France, people were walking with chickens in their hands! As you know, France was World Champion and their emblem is the Rooster.

Many of your players play in England and France. But how it looks in Senegal? Do you go to see Championnat Na onal du Sénégal matches? Do you support any team?

As I men oned above Allez Casa, it's my favorite team, I support also Olympique de Ngor. There is in Senegal a very popular neighborhood tournament called The Navétanes is a nursery of future stars! In general, the talents emerge from the turnips and then they go to training centers like Genera on Football which is piloted by the French club FC Metz (for example, players like Sadio Mane, Papiss Cisse, Babacar Gueye are their products). So for sure all the Senegalese football stars came out of the street!

I heard that wrestling is also very popular in Senegal, right?

Yes, it's the most popular sport! Try to imagine, that the winner of a fight can win up to 2M € in a match!

Any chance that football will become in the future more popular than wrestling? And why is it so important and popular sport in Senegal, what is behind this phenomenon?

Wrestling and football are more or less at the same level but in the wrestling, the Senegalese tradi on is powerful and stronger, so you can see Marabout, Gris Gris, all the mys cal stuff involve in the sport. It’s not uncommon to see, during the African Cup of Na ons, some African players cas ng spells in the goals of the opposing team.

Photo: Lionel Mandeix

125

„ The President of Sengal loves and knows that football makes the relationship more sincere and frank with the people.

H

Billy J A PA N

C a n y o u i m a g i n e t h e w e e k e n d w i t h o u t b e e r, mates and football? The answer is no, innit?

City: Urawa Born: 1989 Profession: System Engineer Support: Urawa Red Diamonds Other: WHU supporter and season ticket holder Reading about Japanese culture, I found out about Kemari, a tradi onal ball game in Japan, during the Heian Period.

So we can say, that football was born in Japan. I’m guessing Kemari is not very popular in Japan now, but did you know anything about this game before?

Yes of course I know Kemari although I haven't played it.

It's not popular like you say though, we have learned it in history lessons in school. I guess mostly people who has been educated in Japan know the historical sport. It is the sport to keep one ball in the air and players can use any parts of body except hands & arms.

The rule players use a ball and can't use their hands & arms is same as football. In addi on, the sport was played & enjoyed by only posh class people. It sounds similar to current modern football as it stands today lol.

So, going forward. 1993 was the most important year in Japan football story, right?

Yes, you are absolutely right. It was one of the turning points of football history in Japan. They gave me the reason to live.

Can you imagine the weekend without beer, mates and football?

The answer is no, innit? What else you gonna do on a Saturday without them.

The key change was when J-League management decided that teams can’t use company names, and you have to take a hometown name? What it meant, in Japan culture and sport, this corporate iden fy?

I'm so surprised because you really know about JLeague despite it is just small island league in the Far East lol. In my opinion, I can feel Football clubs belong to their own fans, not industry strongly. Football is for you and me, not for fuckin industry. Moreover our pride for local became more intense too.

My hometown is quite small and it doesn't have any amusements except football. However we don't think leaving and moving from our local because we've got our club there. That's good enough.

For your club, Urawa Red Diamonds, it was Mitsubishi Urawa before, right?

Yes, originally parent company Mitsubishi had an own football club and it decided to change their club name as Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club when J-League has started.

A erwards, they have changed their name again as current used

126

127

name, Urawa Red Diamonds in 1996. The name, Red Diamonds, signifies the gli er of diamonds, strength and strong solidarity, and I guess it came from parent company's logo (3 lozenges) too.

And how your beginnings looked, where love to football and Urawa Red Diamonds came from?

I was just 4 year-old boy and lived in Urawa (s ll living there) when J-League has started. My town has got a J-League team! So me and mates talked about J-League & our hometown club every day like people who crowded in football pubs. TBH we didn't know football and understand the rule so much though, we just talked about last weekend results, next game predic on and clubs we hated lol. I s ll can't understand why it has happened in a nursery school, but the op on to choose other clubs was not available thanks to the environment. I guess our parents started to know & get interested in football due to J-League. So we might just imitate what parents did. Anyway, everything has started from the days in a nursery school.

In the first years of the J-league, how the ultras movement looked like?

I haven't seen them with my own eyes because I was a small boy then like I men oned, and it was very difficult to get match ckets due to stadium capacity. I have heard of the then state from old fellas and seen pictures on the internet. Actually there were some groups on terraces though, they didn't look like proper ultras we imagine. TBH they just looked like tacky delinquents. However I am really sure they made fundamentals of suppor ng and football culture in Japan. Surely we have got football league though, football s ll has not fascinated people properly then. So those groups tried to unite fans, support their club and warm up J-League too because they thought proper football league needs proper supporters and fans. Obviously any SNS like Facebook, Twi er, YouTube didn't exist. It must be hard to spread their ideas and thoughts and lead people who crowded in stadium because football was not famous in Japan and people didn't know how to support their club. For example, can you popularize Sumo wrestling in Europe? It was the same thing in Japan I think. They started to use original flags, banners and megaphones, and mostly groups supported with Italian ultras style. They thought violent looking and behavior work well to catch everyone's hearts. and it did.

miles. When I was 16 years old (2005), I was bored with everything and needed something to do with my energy and passion. Back then, listening to music (especially Oi Punk) was one of my solu ons. The legendary band, Cockney Rejects are my favorite one, and they sing unique songs like I'm forever blowing bubbles, War on the terraces and We are the firm. Because the band members follow West Ham United and are the members of the famous firm, Inter City Firm. I was really wondering what West Ham is and what happened there. I found a YouTube video which West Ham fans singing Bubbles at Upton Park, then I was just impressed and my heart said F**kin' hell this is what I want!. I s ll cannot express my feelings with any words. All I can say is I was just impressed. Now I became a season cket holder and next season (18/19) would be the 4th season since I started to be it.

What about English casual culture you are trying to transfer to Japanese stadiums?

I have realized my wishes and nowadays we've got 40 members in our firm, and we can see some casual flags and lads who we don't know in stadium. However it's s ll not good enough. I'm afraid casual culture is s ll not famous in Japan and I'm believing that it's my role to let Japanese football lads know how this culture is special and decent. When I'm over the UK, I always try to visit shops in London, Manchester, Barnsley, and other places, and get new stuff which I can't buy in Japan. For what? Obviously, it's for me and fellas too. I wanna make my firm special about behavior and of course clobber. Not only me. So I sell or give those stuff which I've got in the UK to mates. People get interested when they see something which looks cushty and they have never seen in their ordinary lives. so I always post about football (especially West Ham) and casuals on SNS for a rac ng follower's interest for Bri sh football culture. SNS is the easy way to spread my ideas over the world. I guess you will understand what I'm saying when you see my instagram.

Photo: Billy

Urawa Weekend Offender shirt, scarf, your flag: midweek offender, how this all happened?

The answer is quite simple. Because I love casual culture lol. ok please allow me to explain technically. I was raised in Urawa and it was natural to belong to one of the ultras groups. One day I found a picture of a flag emblazoned with the word CASUALS and it caught my eyes. A erwards, I googled, read ar cles & books and flew to London to get more informa on what they are and background how the culture has started. Eventually, I started to wear Stone Island, Adidas, Hacke , Ellesse, Weekend Offender and other clobber brands when I realized, and with fellas formed the 1st casual group in Japan.

Japanese blood and East Londoner heart - so tell me please why West Ham United?

I'm really sure it's so weird to follow them over 6000

128

Kacper Sokรณl

Russia 2018 Kits catalogue 129

Stunning. Lousy. Creative. Boring. Geometric. Plain. Modern. Old-school.

There are 64 kits to be worn during the World Cup, and over a hundred adjectives to describe them. Well-known colour sets and modern patterns, reaching to the roots and new expiriences- Everything closely summarized on next few pages.

One is sure- Adidas simply smashed the competition this year. Old-school geometric patterns inspired by the 80's and 90's style are marvelous. Take a closer look at Germany’s and Spain’s kits- top class. Nike’s releases were mostly a big dissapointment, especially with their nasty copy-paste work on away kits. Notable exeptions are only Nigeria’s and Australia’s home kits.

I know everyone has own favourites and a lot of you probably won’t gonna agree with my ratings, but despite anyone’s taste, we all can agree that every kit is a piece of art to some extent, worth a minute or two of admiration.

130

RUSSIA Federation name: Rossiyskiy Futbolnyy Soyuz, RFS Established: 1992** World Cups played: 3 First World Cup: USA 1994 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Group stage Kits manufacturer: Adidas

URUGUAY Federation name: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol, AUF Established: 1900 World Cups played: 12 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 2 x winner (1930, 1950) Kits manufacturer: Puma

Group A represents quite the average level of design, nothing really catchy, to be honest.

Russia presented great oldschool design of the home kit, bringing back memories of CCCP. White sleeve stripes are unique and non of the other sets presented by Adidas for the World Cup will have such.

Sbornaya’s away kits looks all right too, but the pa ern has no story- it’s just a random set up of squares.

Uruguay and Egypt have presented simple, minimal designs. La Celeste home kits will see jacquard depic on of „Sun of The Atlan da”- modern sculpture being one of th Uruguay’s na onal symbols. Egypt will wear red home kits with simple checked pa ern, one shade darker than the whole kit.

Saudi Arabia set is not really the one to elaborate on. Simple design brought by Nike, homekit fully white, away- fully green. One thing to no ce heresuperb shade of green used in away kits.

EGYPT Federation name: Egyptian Football Association, EFA Established: 1921 World Cups played: 2 First World Cup: Italy 1934 Last World Cup: Italy 1990 World Cup best: Group stage Kits manufacturer: Adidas

SAUDI ARABIA Federation name: Saudi Arabian Football Federation, SAFF Established: 1956 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: USA 1994 Last World Cup: Germany 2006 World Cup best: Round of 16 (1994) Kits manufacturer: Nike

*A few words of clarifica on to this here catalogue- home kits are pictured as top le in each set. The ra ng is based on my own opininon, I focused mostly on design, pa ern,color pale e, uniqueness etc. I have niether assessed the fabric, technology, nor the font used. Note 5 is given when a kit is based solely on producer’s template, without personalisa on, note 3- when based on template without predefault pa ern. ** Only countries in their current poli cal form taken into account. I haven’t count plays under the the Soviet or Jugoslavian Federa on etc

131

20

18

URUGUAY

RUSSIA home kit: 6/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

6.5/10

Rating:

5.5/10

SAUDI ARABIA

RUSSIA home kit: 6/10 away kit: 6/10

home kit: 6/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

6/10

home kit: 3/10 away kit: 3/10

Rating:

3/10 132

SPAIN Federation name: Real Federación Española de Fútbol, RFEF Established: 1913 World Cups played: 15 First World Cup: Italy 1934 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Winner: RSA 2010 Kits manufacturer: Adidas

MAROCCO Federation name: Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football Established: 1955 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Mexico 1970 Last World Cup: France 1998 World Cup best: Round of 16 (1986) Kits manufacturer: Adidas

Both Spain’s sets are outstanding- top Adidas designs, with a good old retro look. The geometric pa erns of both kits look great, especially away onerather than going with boring plain jersey based on TABELA 18 template, a subtle geometric pa ern has been included, which - combined with nice grey/orange pale e- gives mervelous effect.

There’s nothing much to be said about other kits in this group- Portugal did not a bad job, however homekit is being completly based on new AEROSWIFT template, thus only rated as 5/10. Great look of away kit though!

I like Iran’s away jersey as well, but quick look into the group schedule makes me think we’re not gonna see this one worn during this tournament, at least by Iran- it’s a basic Addias template for a couple of other teams as well Morocco? Shame on you. Both kits looks like training jerseys. You had the poten al of original Adidas pa erns and You went in with plain kits...

133

IRAN Federation name: (fon) Ferasaun Futbal Aaran, FFIRI Established: 1948 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Argentina, 1978 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Group stage Kits manufacturer: Adidas

PORTUGAL Federation name: Federação Portuguesa de Futebol, FPF Established: 1914 World Cups played: 6 First World Cup: England 1966 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Third place (1966) Kits manufacturer: Nike

IRAN

SPAIN home kit: 9/10 away kit: 9/10

Rating:

9/10

Rating:

4/10

PORTUGAL

MOROCCO home kit: 3/10 away kit: 4/10

home kit: 3/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

3.5/10

home kit: 5/10 away kit: 8/10

Rating:

6.5/10 134

AUSTRALIA Federation name: Football Federation Australia, FFA Established: 1961 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Germany1974 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Round of 16 (2006) Kits manufacturer: Nike

DENMARK Federation name: Dansk BoldspilUnion, DBU Established: 1889 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Mexico 1986 Last World Cup: RSA 2010 World Cup best: Quarter-nals (1998) Kits manufacturer: Hummel

Double winner of a group stage? France.

It’s gonna be easy 9 points in 3 games, just like they just scored in my kits ra ng. Stunning home kitI guess it ’s the only catchy example of Nike’s AEROSWIFT template, achieved only by contrast between shades of blue used. But that’s not the best of The Blues- away kit is absolutely marvelous.

Minimal, random pa ern of strokes, barely seen in other kits designs... I love it.

Soceroos brought another nice design, expanding basic Nike’s Vapor with unique pa ern on the sleeves, represen ng waves of the ocean. Away kit is quite basic, but has a nice sash through the front.

I enjoy Danish kits as I enjoy the kits with subtle references to country’s symbols, such as crossed sashes inspired by Royal Guards uniforms.

Together with classic Hummel’s chevrons whole set gets a unmistakeable look And at last Peru, and the only country to play with a classic sash. I like the sleeve stripes, classic for Umbro and... that’s all. Not a bad set, but quite dull.

135

FRANCE Federation name: Fédération Française de Football, FFF Established: 1919 World Cups played: 14 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Winner: France 1998 Kits manufacturer: Nike

PERU Federation name: Federación Peruana de Futbol, FPF Established: 1924 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Spain 1982 World Cup best: Quarter-nal (1970) Kits manufacturer: Umbro

DENMARK

AUSTRALIA home kit: 7/10 away kit: 7/10

Rating:

7/10

Rating:

home kit: 7/10 away kit: 7/10

7/10

F P F

F P F

PERU

FRANCE home kit: 8/10 away kit: 10/10

Rating:

9/10

home kit: 6/10 away kit: 6/10

Rating:

6/10 136

ARGENTINA Federation name: Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, AFA Established: 1893 World Cups played: 16 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 2 x winners: 1978, 1986 Kits manufacturer: Adidas

CROATIA Federation name: Hrvatski Nogometni Savez, HNS Established: 1993 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: France 1998 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 3rd place (1998) Kits manufacturer: Nike

Wow, Nigerian home kit is undoubtly one of the most extraordinary, yet well designed. Vivid colours, vivid pa ern, seemingly chao c but organised and geometric a er closer look. No wonder NFF achieved over 3 million (!!!) sale orders before release day. The be er the home kit, the more dissapoin ng is the away kit. Seriously? Looks like everyone was so focused on home jersey, they forgot bout aways and had to release lousy plain template at the very last moment.

Did anyone expected Croa a to release a set not based on checker design? Of course not. It was clear for everybody, but somehow Croa ans suprised us with the details of the checker. It’s not plain anymore, zig-zag edges gives a wild taste to the iconic pa ern.

Argen na also re-invented the iconic design of the ver cal stripes. Again- sky-blue stripes are not plain as in the past, but consist of a squares- gradient.

Is there a bigger dissapointment than Iceland?

Both jerseys look like bought in a suburb second-hand shop.

137

ICELAND Federation name: Knattspyrnusamband Íslands, KSA Established: 1947 World Cups played: First World Cup: Last World Cup: World Cup best: Kits manufacturer: Errea

NIGERIA Federation name: Nigeria Football Federation Established: 1933 World Cups played: 6 First World Cup: USA 1994 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Round of 16 Kits manufacturer: Nike

CROATIA

NIGERIA Rating:

home kit: 9/10 away kit: 3/10

6/10

home kit: 7/10 away kit: 7/10

Rating:

7/10

KSI

KSI

KSI

ICELAND home kit: 3/10 away kit: 2/10

ARGENTINA

KSI

Rating:

2.5/10

home kit: 7/10 away kit: 8/10

Rating:

7.5/10 138

BRASIL Federation name: Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, CBF Established: 1923 World Cups played: 20 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 5 x winner (’58, '62, '70, '94, '02) Kits manufacturer: Nike

COSTA RICA Federation name: Federación Costarricense de Fútbol, FEDEFUTBOL Established: 1927 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Italy 1990 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Quarter- nals (2014) Kits manufacturer: New Balance

A p a r t f ro m M atc h d ay g ra p h i c d e s i g n , I’m a geologist by profession and that’s why I find Swiss homekit as a personal favourite. I have never thought topographic isolines can fit a football jersey so well. Minimal pa ern looks nice, fits nice and is highly coherent with major connota ons of Switzerland.

Brasil released one of the best Nike’s sets.

While home kit apperas as a classy, but yet boring, yellow jersey, away shirt looks crazy with the pa ern used. Love the design, but I’m not sure if adding Aeroswi ’s sleeve trims isn’t just too much.

Costarican set looks a bit dullish. At least they decided to use minimal pa ern to expand the plain shirts, but explana on of the lines seems pointless (Costarican slogan for the upcomming World Cup is „Declare Your DNA”, and that’s a meaning of the lines.

Maybe I missed something during bioogy course, but this is not how I remember the DNA chain looks like...

Serbia- booooooring... Extra point for the chest flag though, that’s best I can do.

139

SERBIA Federation name: Fudbalski Savez Srbije, FSS Established: 2003 World Cups played: 2 (2006 as Serbia and Montenegro) First World Cup: Germany 2006 Last World Cup: RSA 2010 World Cup best: Group stage Kits manufacturer: Puma

SWITZERLAND Federation name: Schweizerischer Fussballverband, ASF Established: 1904 World Cups played: 10 First World Cup: Italy 1934 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Quarter- nals Kits manufacturer: Puma

SWITZERLAND

BRASIL home kit: 5/10 away kit: 7/10

Rating:

6.5/10

Rating:

6/10

SERBIA

COSTA RICA home kit: 5/10 away kit: 5/10

home kit: 9/10 away kit: 3/10

Rating:

5/10

home kit: 3/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

4/10 140

GERMANY Federation name: Deutscher Fußball-Bund, DFB Established: 1900 World Cups played: 18 First World Cup: Italy 1934 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 4 x winner (’54, ’74, ’90, ’14 Kits manufacturer: Adidas

SOUTH COREA Federation name: Daehan Chukgu Hyeophoe, KFA Established: 1928 World Cups played: 9 First World Cup: Switzerland 1954 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Fourth (2002) Kits manufacturer: Nike

Oh my, Germany’s set is a banger! It’s an indisputable winner, the whole set is undoubtly worthy a current World Champion. Cover the DFB logo and I’m sure everyone would recognise the German design behind the homekit. Away jersey rensembles the finest old- school Adidas designs, the pa ern is a masterpiece for me. 10/10.

Germany’s unbeatable, but whole Group F has a good sense of class in terms of kits. Sweden revealed apparently plain, yet classy kit with subtle pa ern of ver cal stripes, rensembling pre-war kits (in your face, Brasil) and standard Tabela 18 template for away shirt.

Mexico- nice pa ern for home shirt, but away kit looks a li le bit to generic and cheap, especially when compared with other Adidas kits.

Sadly for Korea, their home kit looks to plain...

The Tigers could do a be er one, but I know some federa ons have a very minimal approach to the design. Away kit, however, with its horizontal strokes, saves the good overall score.

141

MEXICO Federation name: Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, AC Established: 1929 World Cups played: 16 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Quarter- nals Kits manufacturer: Adidas

SWEDEN Federation name: Svenska Fotbollförbundet, SvFF Established: 1904 World Cups played: 11 First World Cup: Italy 1934 Last World Cup: Germany 2006 World Cup best: Runner-up (Sweden 1958) Kits manufacturer: Adidas

SOUTH COREA

GERMANY home kit: 10/10 away kit: 10/10

Rating:

10/10

Rating:

5.5/10

MEXICO

SWEDEN home kit: 7/10 away kit: 5/10

home kit: 3/10 away kit: 8/10

Rating:

6/10

home kit: 8/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

6.5/10 142

BELGIUM Federation name: Koninklijke Belgische Voetbalbond, KBVB Established: 1904 World Cups played: 12 First World Cup: Uruguay 1930 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Fourth (1986) Kits manufacturer: Adidas

ENGLAND Federation name: The Football Association, The FA Established: 1863 World Cups played: 13 First World Cup: Brasil 1950 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: 1 x winner (England 1966) Kits manufacturer: Nike

PANAMA

We haven’t expected England to release a homekit other than predominantly white. No addi onal pa ern, no minimal symbols or jacquard mo ves, just a purity. I like it. Away kit looks great- line pa ern has an obvious reference to the na onal symbol (St. George Cross), but also works great with Nike’s template and sleeve trim.

Belgium released a nice design for a home kit, however I’ve met with a lot of nega ve opinions on it in the web. A lot of people say it looks like a a cycling jersey and doesn’t match a football style. I personaly like the design and find it novel and fresh.

M ay b e I ’ l l p a s s ove r t h e Tu n i s i a n a n d Panamian sets...

143

Federation name: Federación Panameña de Fútbol, FEPAFUT Established: 1937 World Cups played: 0 First World Cup: Russia 2018 Last World Cup: World Cup best: Kits manufacturer: New Balance

TUNISIA Federation name: Fédération Tunisienne de Football, FTF Established: 1957 World Cups played: 4 First World Cup: Uruguay 1978 Last World Cup: Germany 2006 World Cup best: Group stage Kits manufacturer: Uhlsport

BELGIUM

ENGLAND home kit: 6/10 away kit: 9/10

Rating:

7.5/10

Rating:

6.5/10

TUNISIA

PANAMA home kit: 2/10 away kit: 2/10

home kit: 7/10 away kit: 5/10

Rating:

2/10

home kit: 2/10 away kit: 2/10

Rating:

2/10 144

COLOMBIA Federation name: Federación Colombiana de Fútbol Established: 1936 World Cups played: 5 First World Cup: Chile 1962 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Quarter- nals Kits manufacturer: Adidas

JAPAN Federation name: Nihon Sakka Kyokai, AFC Established: 1921 World Cups played: 5 First World Cup: France 1998 Last World Cup: Brasil 2014 World Cup best: Round of 16 Kits manufacturer: Adidas

Ok.,Poland first. Couldn’t we just fucking once release something that isn’t so pathe c...?

Please...? Well, the design is ok. And it’s all about it.

With other Nike’s releases we saw a poten al for unique and novel, yet minimal solu ons, at least for away kit. We saw those grey spikes many, many mes, just in diffrent set up.

To be clear- I don’t think Polish kits are ugly.

Just dull af. The worst kits in a group are brought to you by Senegal. The tribal pa ern of a lion would be nice a decade ago. However those artsy/tribal mo ves are quite common for Senegal kits.

Japan presented a superb pa ern of a home kit. Great line art- that’s something we do not see on football kits very o en. Away kit might be a li le bit dissapoin ng, but for me it’s working well with the home kit and founds a perfect balance between minimalism and uniqueness.

Beau ful color pale e used by Columbia. The best look of the old-school designs is achieved by crea ve side stripes- mostly by black background. The blue away kit doesn’t only look great, but also rensembles the columbian kits from the finest mes of 70s and 80s. Great job!

145

POLAND Federation name: Polski Zwiazek Piłki Noznej, PZPN Established: 1919 World Cups played: 7 First World Cup: France 1938 Last World Cup: Germany 2006 World Cup best: 2 x third (1974, 1982) Kits manufacturer: Nike

SENEGAL Federation name: Fédération Sénégalaise de Football, FSF Established: 1960 World Cups played: 1 First World Cup: Korea & Japan 2002 Last World Cup: Korea & Japan 2002 World Cup best: Quarter- nals Kits manufacturer: Puma

COLOMBIA

JAPAN home kit: 10/10 away kit: 7/10

Rating:

8.5/10

Rating:

9/10

SAUDI ARABIA

POLAND home kit: 6/10 away kit: 6/10

home kit: 9/10 away kit: 9/10

Rating:

6/10

home kit: 4/10 away kit: 4/10

Rating:

4/10 146

1. Kedr Livanskiy - Your Name (Russia) 2. Slowthai - North Nights (England) 3. Lys Gainza - Mas Que Nada (Brazil) 4. Vendredi sur Mer - Larme Ă Gauche (France) 5. Cleo - Vi Har Sagt Allt (Sweden) 6. La Smala - 11h59 (Belgium) 7. Pika - Tempo passa (Portugal) 8. Coals - RAVE03' ft. Bobkovski (Poland) 9. iLe - Vienen a Verme (Puerto Rico) 10. Giulia y los Tellarini - Barcellona (Spain) 11. Ocean Alley - Muddy Water (Australia) 147

WORLD CUP MEMORIES

by Marcus Reed

148

www.twitter.com/matchday_mag www.instagram.com/matchdaymag