10 Questions for the S.S. Lazio TFC President
4.2.2008Considering of a general speculation about the development of our Sport, I had the chance to discuss with Stefano Tagliaferri, president of italian club S.S. Lazio TFC and father of the most talented Italian junior-U12 now, about some important as well as critical points for the future of Table Football, in Italy and all over the world.
1- Could you describe us your Sports profile please ? What is exactly your effort as member of Lazio TFC?
“I began playing with my son roughly one year ago. As a child I loved Subbuteo and used to play with friends from the neighborhood who were usually much better players than me. Today I am S.S. Lazio TFC president and as such my role is to represent the Society besides being one of his players.”
2- We would like to inform about the benefits from the join between your club and the famous Italian Lazio FC ? How this project will promote our Sport ?
“I should first of all point out that S.S. Lazio is a «Polisportiva», which in Italian means a society that organizes a number of departments dedicated to different sports. In the case of S.S. Lazio there are 36 of them (football, volley, handball, hockey, etc….) and 5 associated activities (table football, pool, etc….). From the beginning our dream was to become part of S.S. Lazio that, by the way, is the biggest sport society in Europe. The greatest benefit for us is to be part of a real great family with more then 108 year of history and lots of experience in the fields of sport and management.”
3- Do you believe that the Italian Table Football is on top ? Which national Associations or international Clubs could be the leaders in organization and marketing level?
“Italian players are amongst the skillest in the world, I’m not saying that as a personal opinion but looking at trends in international results. S.S. Lazio TFC is working to become a benchmarking experience both in terms of management and marketing. We have already took part at important tournaments such as the World Cup in Les Herbiers, the Major of Bologna, various GPs such as those of Wales and Austria that, more than, others informed our understanding regards of good organizational management.”
4- FISTF works hard for Table Football Sports development. How can you help this effort and which is your opinion about the game?
“Yes, FISTF is working on the right track! I think I could with no doubts put my direct experience with youth at the service of the international federation. Behind any rhetoric, they truly are the future of our game. To play table football is not an easy task; it requires patience, manual skills, strategic thinking and concentration, all skills seldom found in nowadays youth.”
5- I believe that the right step for the future of Table Football is a chain reaction from FISTF and national Federations to the base, means the clubs, and vice-versa. What is your opinion about this situation?
“Nowadays the base of table football is the lot of individual clubs, especially those that play at the low level of the scale. In other words those who work with youth and therefore really promote the game. Although it is easier to say than to do, those clubs should be helped because to get youngsters close to sport means to compromise time and resources and those are seldom found in our movement that is a voluntary one. We should highly value when these two goals, to get young children or boys close to the game with the effort of people who compromise their time and resources on a voluntary basis, are achieved through a very exceptional synergy.”
6- Do you believe that there are the standards at least in 50% in order that our hobby to become as a special Game like a Sport?
“I believe that those standards put in place by FISTF are effective and transparent guidelines. Nonetheless, the path to become a sport is still a long one inasmuch it implies a widespread step up in the quality of the activities run by clubs. The latter have to transform from groups of friends in real sport associations with players taking part to at least 4 tournaments per season on an individual basis. A high number of clubs do not take part to any competition but is still allowed to retain the sportive title that is they are entitled to say that they belong to an association in spite of the fact they do so only on a nominal basis. This takes all of us quite far away from the concept of sport. To finish illustrating my position, I think that a number of delicate topics should be put on the table and discussed to become a sport, among these anti-doping and the referees’ issues should be the object of a primary attention. A sport becomes credible when there are rules that are the same for everyone, when these rules are applied and one the values of equality and mutual solidarity prevail on negative ones.”
7- I believe that it would be necessary for FISTF having the support of a skilled Sports Manager. What is your opinion about this situation?
“I definitely think so! At S.S. Lazio TFC we are indeed trying to steer in that direction our activities and management.”
8- How much useful is the existing of independent e-magazines today like Subbuteo News for the international promotion of Sport and Hobby?
“Promotion is paramount in any activity. Therefore, the existence of independent tabloids, blogs, forums etc is a key piece inasmuch they tend to become reference points for fans, supporters, managers and players too.”
9- What is your opinion about the support of young players of Table Football all over the world, now and in the future?
“As I said, at present young players are backed by their clubs, particularly those who are developing a junior section. It is hard work done on a voluntary basis, thus national association should provide the greatest support to these clubs and grant to young players U19 free access, meaning no entrance fee to be charged, at competitions.”
10- Can you tell us in confidence the plans of your team about the Campionati Italiani as well as for the International tournaments, for this and next season?
“I have to be true, I won’t make public my future plans and other projects, I’ll tell you that our Sportive Association is based on tolerance solidarity and friendship principles and mutual respect, these are qualities that we’re trying to transfer to our boys and play table-football to enjoy and stay together. I can say that we aren’t a great team now, but we are a great group and that worths more than a competitive success. Obviously, I will try to improve our performances. As regards present season we got a good performance during Italian championship (teams and single) taking part to other two tournaments FISTF where we will bring our boys to make experience. For next season there will be some strengthening plans, so we hope to find new friends then our project will be of all too.”
by Christos Archimandritis
(Fonte: Subbuteonews.com)
S.S. Lazio TFC - S.S. Lazio Calcio Tavolo www.laziotfc.com info@laziotfc.com