Arsenal finished in fifth place this week as football finance accountants Deloitte published their league table of Europe’s wealthiest clubs. The Gunners were behind leaders Real Madrid, who earned upwards of £350 million in revenue last year.
Ivan Gazidis’ ever expanding team are working harder and harder to increase the Arsenal brand, but football is not all about money. The global work the club is doing to build the brand is scarcely discussed, but rest assured, the Arsenal name and ways of doing things are being embedded into the cultures of football fans in some of the poorest parts of the world.
Nowhere is that more noticeable than the work Enfield-born Drew Tyler is doing. The 22-year-old life long Gooner is part of Arsenal’s Gap Year program, and is currently stationed in the small town of Manica, in Mozambique. Drew spared some time from his busy schedule to talk to Young Guns this week about his experiences, and the work the club are doing with the locals.
He began by explaining his day-to-day role in Mozambique.
“In Manica there is a club called Grupo Desportivo de Manica, where we’re based. They are not just a football club though, they also house and feeds some of their players, provide English and computer literacy lessons, and help feed through to junior football teams in the area.”
“The first team is in the second tier of football here. One of our roles is to play for the team. In the mornings, we train with the first team for two or three hours, then, in the afternoon, we go around visiting the junior teams and provide sessions for them. The ages range from Under 11′s to Under 17′s. The teams are made up of boys and girls.”
“At the weekends we host Arsenal style tournaments for the different age groups, with prizes for the winners, player of the tournament. There is a real focus on enjoyment, with points being added for goals scored, just like the Emirates Cup, as well as for winning and drawing matches.”
The Gap Year program is far from Arsenal just sending young coaches out to Africa to train poorer players. It is about developing and growing children from poor backgrounds, and introducing them to the Arsenal ways of doing things. Football in its truest form.
Drew lists coaching the kids and introducing them to Arsenal’s ethics as the best parts of the job, and its that satisfaction that makes it all worth while.
“When we turn up to the sessions with a bag of new football’s, the smiles on their faces really make it all worthwhile. The language poses a slight problem but we are able to manage via demonstrations, translations from the other coaches and through the language of football. When we came out here we brought 10 footballs and were sent a further 30 by Arsenal. The club have since described these as gold dust and it really makes you appreciate how lucky we are in England to have such facilities and equipment at our disposal.”
The team of Arsenal coaches are working with Grupo Desportivo de Manica to build three new pitches, an indoor sports facility, changing rooms, a grand stand and houses for the players. The ambition of the club is huge and leaves a lasting legacy.
Drew says “without doubt” Arsenal could reap the rewards from Mozambique in more than a commercial aspect. In fact, he’s convinced that it could be a hot bed of talent in the future. However, with many pitches covered in rocks and stones, building the perfect playing surfaces to prosper is the challenge.
Arsenal are seen by many as the perfect club to develop young players. More recognition in Mozambique could benefit all parties, and Drew is convinced it would be a win:win partnership.
“We are only the second pair coaches to be sent here, so hopefully, with more recognition and funding, the club will get more help. In terms of Arsenal’s ability to nurture that talent, as a fan I think it is second to none, and a neutral, I think the same.”
You can follow Drew’s updates from Mozambique on his blog The Arsenal Way. You can also learn more about Grupo Desportivo de Manica on their official website.