Chiefs on international road show
Chiefs on international road show

Posted in News on Nov 29, 2006.

The mission to globalize the Kaizer Chiefs brand continued recently with the marketing team’s trip to London for the stadium revenue summit and a visit to the popular Dubai Soccerex.

The Amakhosi team was led by club chairman Kaizer Motaung, accompanied by Marketing Manager Jessica Motaung and finance manager Jason Raine.

"We went to the Emirates Stadium to learn more about what they are doing and the stadium opportunities around our new stadium. Our next stop was Dubai, which we have a rich history with in terms of Soccerex," said Chiefs Marketing Manager Jessica Motaung.

Chiefs put up one of the best stands at the Dubai Expo where the Chiefs brand was showcased. Club Chairman Kaizer Motaung was also in a panel on delegates on Tuesday, which discussed various football topics.

Jessica Motaung adds that this year there is a strong South African presence at the Expo with Castle Premiership clubs like Sundowns and Jomo Cosmos in attendance and various other SA companies. Also present at the Expo are Gauteng Premier Mbazhima Shilowa and his MEC for Sport and Recreation Barbra Creecy.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter spoke on a number of topics including the possible introduction of goal-line technology in competitive football.

"Next year we will conduct experiments in youth competitions (in Canada and South Korea)," Blatter told reporters. "By December 2007 I am convinced we will be able to use one of them (forms of technology)."

"Video like this would take away the spontaneity and what is fantastic about football," Blatter said. "We want to keep the human element."

"It begins with education," he said. "We must educate our young players to respect the referees. Referees are an important part of our sport."

Soccerex is now in its 10th year and has established itself as the only global convention of its kind, dedicated to the professional business to business football environment.

Dubai Soccerex

The event was successfully launched at Old Trafford in Manchester in 1997, and since these early beginnings Soccerex has grown into an international convention touring some of the world's greatest cities including Los Angeles, London and Paris. Exhibitors and delegates represent a who's who of the world of football over the last 10 years and include leading industry figures.

Since 2001, Soccerex has settled in Dubai with the Jumeirah Beach hotel initially welcoming delegates and exhibitors from all over the world in one glorious setting under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In 2005 and again in 2006, Soccerex will take place at the spectacular new Madinat Jumeirah hotel and is honoured to be under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.

It is now a regular feature of the international football calendar, a place where senior executives meet, learn, network and do business. And from 2007 until 2010, the Soccerex will find a new home in South Africa.

Additional information courtesy of the Dubai Soccerex website

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