Having a Slice of the Football Cake: A Thriving Career
“Football is like a religion to me. I worship the ball, and I treat it like a god. Too many players think of a football as something to kick. They should be taught to caress it and to treat it like a precious gem.” — Pelé
Football, or soccer as it is known in the United States, is a major unifying force in Africa. It is arguably the continent’s biggest religion, and it is one activity that can unite even the most bitter rivals.
In fact, it was once reported that Pele helped to bring about a 48-hour ceasefire in Nigeria’s civil war in the 1960s. The “beautiful game” helped to bring a divided country together, and it continues to be a source of hope and unity for many Africans today.
In the West African nation of Ivory Coast, football has also had a powerful impact. Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and his teammates played a key role in halting a civil war in his home country.
Many African nations have been torn apart by religious and ethnic clashes. However, football has a unique ability to quench these tensions and bring peace. Despite the powerful role that football has played in bringing peace and economic liberation to many African homes, the continent has yet to fully explore the life-changing opportunities that the sport presents.
The Football Share: World Cup Case Study
Many Africans have become household names thanks to football.
African footballers have achieved legendary status, such as Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), George Weah (Liberia), Essam El-Hadary (Egypt), and Roger Milla (Cameroon).
The next generation of African footballers, such as Asisat Oshoala, Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, and Victor Osimhen, are becoming more than just footballers — they are becoming cultural influencers.
While many African footballers are able to earn enormous salaries for their skills, the majority of the profits from the sport are enjoyed by a limited number of players who are able to play in Europe. This is due to the fact that European clubs have more money to spend on players and can offer them better contracts.
The global football market size reached $ 3.2 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, IMARC Group reports that the market is to reach $ 4Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4% during 2023–2028.
The market is driven by the increasing popularity of football around the world, the rising number of professional football leagues, and the increasing investment in football infrastructure.
The FIFA Men’s World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world. The only sport that comes close is the Olympics. The quadrennial event garners over 3 billion viewers from all over the world. The FIFA World Cup is a global phenomenon that brings people from all over the world together to celebrate the beautiful game.
Mexico and Argentina broke an attendance record at Qatar 2022 with 88,966 spectators. The previous record was set in 1998 when 87,838 spectators attended the match between Brazil and France.
The ticket prices at the Qatar 2022 World Cup ranged from $11 in the group stage to over $1.5 million for the finals.
The high ticket prices have been criticized by some fans, who say that they are out of reach for many people.
The FIFA World Cup is a major source of revenue for FIFA, the world governing body of football.
The FIFA World Cup has generated over $9 billion in revenue for the last ten editions. The Qatar edition was the biggest thus far, with revenue of $7.5 billion. This is a billion more than the Russia 2018 edition.
The players of the FIFA tournament receive only 7% of the total revenue. While the football cake is growing, more individuals and homes will only experience true financial prosperity if they are equipped to take a slice of the cake.
Football as a Career
There are millions of roles and careers that one can explore in football, beyond kicking the ball.
There are six significant sectors that cover football’s career path. These paths keep involving as the game becomes more popular but
- Player and Coaching Development
Talent development is a sector in football that focuses on identifying and developing young players with potential. Coaches and scouts are the most well-known roles in this sector, but there are many other important roles, such as nutritionists, physiotherapists, data analysts, strength and conditioning coaches, psychological trainers, and injury treatment and rehabilitation specialists.
Michael Emenalo is a former player who became a director of player development at the Tucson Soccer Academy before moving to Chelsea to become their sporting director. He is heading to Saudi Arabia, trying to develop their league.
Some of the possible jobs in the talent development sector include:
Possible jobs — Coaching, Talent ID & Scouting, Analysis, Recruitment, Medical, Performance, Sport Science, Nutrition, Sport Psychology, Management, Specialist Coaching (Goalkeeper, Youth, Futsal, Disability), Physiotherapy, etc.
2. Broadcast, Media, and Technology
This sector involves working in the broadcast media industry and tech companies that are driving the change in the way football is distributed, consumed, and produced. Possible jobs in this sector include:
Possible Jobs — Marketing, Events, Sponsorship, Sales, Finance, Legal, Leadership & Management, Betting, Gamin, Player Representation, Contracts, Market Research, Advertising, Partnerships, Investor Relations, Business Development, Executive, Account Management, Ownership etc
3. Business and Commercial
The commercial sector in football involves creating and generating new revenue streams for the sport. This includes ensuring that the "football cake" gets bigger by creating more value. Possible jobs in the sector include:
Possible Jobs- Journalism, Content, PR, Communications, Photography, Broadcast, Audio, eSports, Digital, Data Science, Statistics, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, etc.
To be continued….
