Soccer: Demanding job not for the faint-hearted

By Terry Maddaford

A passion for soccer spurs Bill MacGowan to take up organising the World Youth Soccer Championships

Bill MacGowan had been at his desk less than an hour in his new job as chief executive of the company charged with running the 1999 World Youth Soccer Championships and already the list of "must do" items was 26.

No one ever suggested organising a tournament, touted by some as the fifth-biggest sporting event in the world even if MacGowan is unsure how you can make such rankings, would be easy. Just how hard, MacGowan is about to find out.

Why, people ask, has MacGowan stepped so keenly back into the lion's den?

"I feel I can bring something to the under-17 tournament," said 47-year-old MacGowan who was in Ecuador four years ago (as Soccer New Zealand's chief executive) when the championships were first awarded to New Zealand.

"Soccer has long been my passion. I saw this as the chance to be involved with something that is right up there.

"The two years I had with the Warriors was a huge learning experience in working with television and sponsors."

MacGowan admits he is not looking beyond his 10-month commitment to the 16-team, New Zealand-wide championships.

His long-time partner thinks he is "loony." MacGowan will have little time to ponder that.

"It is obviously not a career move. I haven't done it for the money or the opportunity to work in a flash office," said MacGowan from his modest base adjacent to New Zealand Soccer's Penrose headquarters. "Once I finished [as CEO] with the Warriors I had to choose between staying in sport or going back to the commercial world. I'm sure I've got that one right.

"I've had tremendous satisfaction in dealing with people worldwide in the name of sport."

But there is no time now to reflect.

MacGowan made his first contact with Fifa's marketing arm ISL on Friday. Those phone lines will run hot as he works through the all-important budgets which must be finalised and presented to Fifa by the end of March.

"Getting that part right is the absolute key. We have limited avenues for funding. We must maximise those just as we must make the most of the opportunities to promote and sell New Zealand internationally.

"The last tournament in Egypt [in 1997] had 82 countries worldwide taking between six and the maximum 32 games live. Altogether 177 took some coverage including a daily, 20-minute highlights package.

"I see this as an opportunity for someone like the Tourist Board to get exposure they can only dream about."

While MacGowan is "still playing with the figures," he is sure the often-quoted $2 million which needs to be raised is pretty close to the mark. The question is where and how.

After a couple of days to find his feet, MacGowan will be on the road, knocking on doors. And listening.

"We have to find out what is being offered in terms of stadiums, accommodation and other facilities," he said. "We have to talk to local councils and show them the benefits and opportunities open to them."

He, and his yet-to-be-appointed board, have to make firm decisions on the venues, where the opening games (and opening ceremony) will be, who will host the quarter and semifinals and the final.

Apart from confirming Auckland as the tournament focal point, he has an open mind.

But, above all else, he is quick to remind everyone this is a football tournament which will bring together the very best of the world's young talent.

"Many will be 18-year-olds by the time of the championships. Up to 80 per cent will either have a professional contract or at least be on the books of a top club.

"There will be a huge number of [football] scouts in New Zealand as this is seen as a vital tournament lead-in to the 2002 World Cup.

"I just hope the sporting public get behind it and appreciate what it means both in sporting and other terms to New Zealand.

"We will do an economic study to ascertain just what it will be worth to the country as a whole. I'm sure that figure will be quite staggering."

It is, MacGowan concedes, the biggest possible challenge.

"Time is so short and the logistics so big. Already I'm thinking about dumb things like getting people and equipment through Customs. But this is only the start."

And, with a "seven-and-a-half days a week commitment" he admits his golf handicap which he has managed to get down to a handy 15 is about to blow out.

But that he will happily accept if he can play a major role in ensuring the unqualified success of a tournament which has already had some publicity - unfortunately much of it for the wrong reasons.