{"id":294040,"date":"2021-06-07T15:22:59","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T18:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=294040"},"modified":"2021-07-01T19:50:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T22:50:05","slug":"sao-paulo-fc-pursuing-recognition-among-arabs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/sao-paulo-fc-pursuing-recognition-among-arabs\/","title":{"rendered":"S\u00e3o Paulo FC pursuing recognition among Arabs"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 The S\u00e3o Paulo Football Club (SPFC) wants to become better known internationally and set the Arab countries as a primary focus of the strategy. On Monday (7), the club signed a memorandum of understanding with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC) to support its internationalization in the Arab market. The ABCC works for the rapprochement with the 22 Arab League countries.<\/p>\n

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Casares signed the agreement on behalf of S\u00e3o Paulo FC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The SPFC and ABCC will create a work plan, but SPFC president Julio Casares already said that one of the first actions will be focused on the World Cup 2022 to take place in Qatar next year. In an interview with ANBA, Casares said that sales of tickets and tour packages to the Qatar Cup will be a first challenge to be tackled and that those who won\u2019t go to Qatar for the Cup will be able to watch the games at the Morumbi Stadium, which is home to SPFC.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll take a huge crowd to Qatar, and the distance will be narrowed through the Morumbi hub,\u201d Casares said after the signing event with the ABCC, which was screened online and attended in person by former player Cafu, who played for the SPFC and is currently an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup. \u201cThose who won\u2019t go to the Cup will be able to watch the games here as if they were in Doha, Qatar,\u201d SPFC president revealed at Morumbi.<\/p>\n

Casares said that S\u00e3o Paulo, as the Brazilian club to have won the most world titles, is already internationally known, but the goal is increasing this and reaching all segments \u2013 children, youth, women. According to the SPFC\u2019s president, the club is very popular in Asia because it was a world champion in Japan for three times and in Europe because of the players it exports to European clubs. \u201cWe must break into the Arab countries because of the importance that the football holds for both the Arabs and Brazilians,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

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Chohfi penned the memorandum on behalf of the Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the signing event, the ABCC\u2019s president revealed that he himself is die-hard S\u00e3o Paulo fan, thus the project holds a special significance for him. Chohfi explained that the agreement will be fostered not only to increase the popularity of the SPFC in the Arab countries but for establishing friendship ties and promoting business between the Brazilian club and the Arab countries.<\/p>\n

Chohfi said that football is now Brazil\u2019s major soft power. \u201cThe element that best defines our people around the world,\u201d he said. \u201cAs we stand out because of the best players that work or have worked in the greatest clubs worldwide, whether in Europe or the Arab countries, the partnership agreement we\u2019re announcing has same idea: Make the S\u00e3o Paulo brand go global,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

SPFC International Department director Gabriel Abouchar participated in the launching event and said the agreement is a source of pride and satisfaction for the SPFC fans. He said that he intends to establish an acting group between the SPFC and the ABCC. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll work together for S\u00e3o Paulo, humbly and down to earth,\u201d he said, repeating the phrase that became the mantra of the current board.<\/p>\n

SPFC wants more<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Abouchar (R) participated in the partnership event<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPFC International Department manager Camilla Prando spoke during the event and said she expects that in the short term as many people as possible, particularly in the Arab world, get to know SPFC. \u201cWe\u2019re now striking an agreement that reaches 22 countries, and this is huge. We have an enormous fanbase that will take this journey with us,\u201d she said. In the medium term, she expects everyone will be surprised by the results of what will be and have been established.<\/p>\n

Prando addressed the internationalization plans of the club. \u201cBrazil’s national football team is very notorious across the world, and so are the players who work in Europe, but what happens in Brazilian soil is not as widely known, so we want to take the history of SPFC to more countries and cultures and win the hearts of football fans worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Prando and Cafu: Promoting football and SPFC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cafu endorsed the partnership between the SPFC and ABCC. \u201cThis partnership will further strengthen the Brazilian football,\u201d he said. The former player stressed the benefits of internationalizing SPFC in the Arab world. \u201cOur glorious SPFC will be even more valued,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

SPFC Marketing director Eduardo Toni participated in the event, too. He addressed the size of the club and the connection of the fans in the social media. SPFC has almost 20 million supporters. \u201cIt has recently become the Brazilian club with the highest social media engagements,\u201d Toni said. According to him, the sport is no longer just a sporting event but an entertainment even. \u201cThe sport drive on so many more things than just sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Agreement and webinar<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Toni addressed the size of SPFC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The agreement between the ABCC and SPFC was signed by Chohfi and Casares, respectively. They exchanged symbolic gifts of their institutions, Casares receiving a plate of the ABCC on the agreement and Chohfi a number 10 shirt of SPFC with his name and a replica of the Morumbi Stadium. After the signing, a webinar on football, technology and internationalization took place. Toni and Prando spoke.<\/p>\n

The webinar also featured ELP World Sports Media founder Abdulla Al Hammadi, Dubai\u2019s Department of Tourism and Commercial marketing vice president Hamad Bin Mejren, Egypt\u2019s Empower Football Academy CEO & founder Farida Salem, ABCC CEO & secretary-general Tamer Mansour and Marketing & Content director Silvana Gomes. The master of ceremonies was Ana Cristina Oliveira.<\/p>\n

Read more about the event:<\/p>\n

Transformation in football theme of event with Cafu<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the full event:<\/p>\n