Sport - page 7

Since its onset, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to almost all countries of the world. Social and physical distancing measures, lockdowns of businesses, schools and overall social life, which have become commonplace to the spread of the disease, have also disrupted many regular aspects of life, including physical activity.

As the world hopes to recover from COVID-19, there will be significant issues to be addressed to ensure the safety of our sporting events at all levels and the well-being of our sporting organizations in Gibraltar. In the short term, these will include the adaptation of events to ensure the safety of athletes, fans and vendors, among others. In the medium term, in the face of an anticipated global recession, there may also be a need to take measures to support participation in sporting organizations, particularly for youth sports.

When life has finally returned to normal, I think football will change for the better. We should see the reversal of a power balance that has swung the wrong way for too long, switching it back in favour of the clubs. I would certainly expect that to happen in all countries and not just in Gibraltar, where the financial implications of COVID-19 are hitting particularly hard. Players and agents will have to lower their expectations, and we will see fewer instances of football clubs being held to ransom over deals and contracts.

Anyone going in saying, ‘This guy wants this money, and I want this amount for doing the deal’, might have to face a new reality. Do you want the club to go out of existence, and then there’s no club to play at? If agents ask too much then clubs will say: ‘No problem, we’ll do something else.’

Mass gatherings around the world look like the very last port of call but I think a positive knock-on effect will ultimately be that fans and players are brought closer together, and the atmosphere in our Victoria stadium could improve even further.

Being cynical, I think you have to say a lot of clubs in Gibraltar will see this as a decent opportunity to reboot. It is hard to argue against that happening in a lot of cases, if you take out the emotion and passion of it. Club owners have seen their own businesses decimated overnight. Given owners are going to be hit in the long term, I really think it could be another 10 years before we get back to a financial level similar to now.

I think there will be a correction and prudent approach generally but I’m not convinced that clubs that qualify for UEFA competition won’t continue to pay top dollar for top players. I still think we will see big fees. If you look at the last five to 10 years, there has been an incredible rise in the scale of National League wages, which affects clubs like ours who continuously fight from being a position away from changing our full business model. The market has run away with itself.

It’s a scary time for all of us in Gibraltar. There’s going to be less money in the game and fewer jobs. Offers will be smaller, especially at our level. People are going to have to take cuts. You also have to think about the future. If there isn’t any football after contracts expire you have to find a job. If football doesn’t start until later in the year, you’re not going to get paid for three or four months so it’s time to get into the real world. If football’s not on, there’s no one to coach or scout and many sporting individuals will have to look outside the sport.

I believe the early days of our return in Gibraltar may see change, whether that is the attendance in the Victoria stadium or how we travel to UEFA matches. But as not many people like change even when it’s for the better, if there is any long term it will, for sure, happen slowly. I think we may well eventually return to how things were.

These are unprecedented times where imagination has to come in, and I think the present situation may breed a more creative kind of scouting. Clubs will put more energy into looking for bargains lower down the divisions in other countries, or in smaller foreign leagues. You’re always trying to find a hidden gem but the rewards for reaching beyond the obvious may be even greater now.

Top players and their agents will still command big money, and it won’t affect owners at the top tier of the National league as much but there will be changes until the Gibraltar Football economy recovers. For players coming through the ranks, even at National League level, there are likely to be lower salaries and more incentivised contracts.

If there are more incentivised contracts and less money guaranteed, then clubs will have to be more open in terms of their budgets and commercial income. There’s a danger some clubs might use the crisis to low-ball players and that’s risky because they may lose out to other clubs willing to pay. But this could be a reset for football with young, hungry talent coming through. Owners still want to win, ultimately and qualify for UEFA competition, and after two or three years of taking stock they will dig deep again.

We are positive that we will recover but we will inevitably see the gap between ‘big’ clubs and smaller sides in the Gibraltar national league widening as the wealthier teams recover more easily. The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have very considerable effects on the sporting world as well as on the physical and mental well-being of people around the world, but we will continue to capitalize on the benefits that sport and physical activity can bring in the age of COVID-19 and beyond.

“Talk about yourself”, they said. That’s actually quite a difficult thing to do – to achieve the right balance and to produce a narrative that doesn’t simply resemble a CV. So here goes – Who am I?

Well, for those that know me (and my shape!), you will be forgiven for thinking that football was perhaps not necessarily my first sport. Built for … well, strength…rather than speed, I was always a ‘rugby man’, taking to the field with a group of blokes with odd-shaped balls. From the age of 10, I pursued this passion. But then your body says “hey fella, after 25 years in the British Army, running up and down mountains, and carrying obscene amounts of weight in your backpack, maybe it’s time to consider a coaching role – after all, you’re not 18 anymore!”.

Little did I know at that time, that I would soon swap the rugby ball for one that was all too round.

So how did I get to this point? Well, at the tender age of 16, I ventured into the Army Careers Office in Lancaster, and after some discussion, testing, and one big shaky signature, I was committed! Several weeks later, my Mum and Dad drove me to the train station and bid me farewell to the Army Apprentice College in Chepstow, South Wales – and so the journey began.

An amazing journey with lots of highs, occasionally some lows, but an experience second-to-none. Would I do it all again if I had my time over? – absolutely; without giving a second thought! Those from a military background will relate to this; others may wonder. But despite the separation from family, the long work shifts, the austere locations, the ration-packs, the training, the unknown … and of course the fact that you’re occasionally being shot at, it really is an environment like no other; a family like no other and a camaraderie like no other. Having spent several tours in Gibraltar, UK, the Falkland Islands, France, Canada, Germany, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, the importance of a supportive close-knit family unit is unconditional.

And that’s exactly why, for me, the change from an oval ball to a round one was such an easy transition with Lynx FC. A committee made up of volunteers from all walks of life, united with a common drive and friendship, and a Club set-up that simply says “family”. I am now back in that essential, supportive close-knit family unit. And it feels good!

So, after a couple of seasons of managing a youth team, I volunteered to be Club Secretary. And in 2017, I was asked by the owner Mr Albert Parody, if I would consider taking the role of Club President. Unconditional values, engendering the importance of family, and with such a close-knit supportive team, it was a very easy decision to make – as easy as the one I took in that Army Careers Office in Lancaster, almost 33 years earlier!

I’ve now spent a total of 21 years in Gibraltar; my children were born and have been schooled here; I got married here to my beautiful local wife Kathy, and so I am now, finally, home.

The Lynx clubhouse is the heart of Lynx football club, boasting the largest premises owned by any Football club in Gibraltar.

In 2014, Albert Parody and his team made a financial commitment to take the yellows to new heights and consequently initiated an investment to the once derelict building that had stood empty for 7 years, previously owned by a Gibraltar Hockey team. This purchase was one of most significant events undertaken by the Club in its short history and was by no means possible without the unselfish commitment of Julian Bellido, an old servant of the club and former general manager.

It has been amazing to see the club’s facilities expand alongside the senior and youth teams becoming a central hub of all that Lynx F.C. stands for.

Located at 41/3 Europa Road, the club provides the space needed to keep any team on its feet, from Rest Rooms, changing rooms, Gyms, Cafeteria, meeting room, offices, Meditation room, Physio treatment room, hot and cold bath facilities and many more, making the Lynx Club the most equipped clubhouse in Gibraltar.  Through the hard work of volunteers, contractors and the Lynx committee, The club has been developed into one of the finest football complexes in Gibraltar.

Since Lynx F.C. was established in 2007 they have always worked alongside the community to ensure they are the club of the people. This has included supporting various charities and societies along the way including Little Smiles, Gibraltar Alzheimer’s & Dementia Society and Alcoholics Anonymous, bringing pride and honour in supporting those who support us. Success has not been achieved without hard work and the Club has been blessed with a fine range of individuals who have given their time to help Lynx achieve its goals.

Each year, Lynx hosts various events for a variety of age groups, opening their facilities for the benefit of the community; hosting a large variety of events from birthday party celebrations to family get-togethers or just a quick coffee and a bite to eat on lunch breaks. With limited facilities available up at Europa Point, the Lynx family are honoured to be able to host such a diverse range for individuals or groups needs.

This year, Lynx are looking at expanding their planned events with family and friends at the centre of all they do and cannot wait to serve the mighty yellows. These will be focused on children, adults and families not only within Lynx F.C. but the wider community as well. To have a dedicated department for events Jonathan Costa recently approached Stevie Roche to become Head of Events for the club with the senior assistance of Kathy Noble.

Alongside the support of the fellow committee members, Stevie will be introducing new ideas and planned events within the Clubhouse. We have used the time during the pandemic to brainstorm ideas for the coming year and look forward to not only getting the Lynx family involved but also to reach out to the wider community. 

With such advanced facilities available at the club we are looking forward to building memories for families and friends. Please check our website or social media for details of forthcoming events and if you would like to host an event with Lynx, please call: + (350) 200 69695 /www.lynxfc.com

Let’s start by introducing the person responsible for driving most of our initiatives over the last five years, our current Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jonathan Costa. Since 2015, Jonathan has been a key volunteer member within the Lynx family; providing support in several committee roles, but primarily focused on marketing, communications, innovation, and investment in our sponsors. Selfless, committed and determined, Jonathan’s unwavering support to the whole Lynx family is exemplary and worthy of recognition.

Two years ago, Jonathan took on the task of redesigning, redefining and developing the global Lynx brand, structuring and enhancing our social media platforms, looking for ways to innovate and promote the footballing message to a greater pool of people, across all demographics.

As we navigate through the COVID-19 dilemma, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at some Lynx F.C. highlights over the last few years. Focusing on innovation and the Club’s drive to explore new avenues for raising its profile that of its members and of course, sponsors.

Having achieved a Verified Facebook Page denoted by the ‘blue tick’, in 2016, Jonathan was able to live stream events via our profile/fan page; the first football club in Gibraltar to do so. With the camera identified, a purchased followed and shortly after, the Club’s new equipment arrived directly from the States.

We are excited with the continued development of this media, allowing us to provide even more substantial and more widespread exposure to our sponsors and their brands. We are currently finalising the integration of live scores during streaming sessions, incorporating advertisements and sponsorship information during matches and at intervals. 

Our media reach is far stronger than our footballing competitors, with 38,471 followers on Facebook and 4,829 followers on Twitter in countries spanning Europa, North and South America, and Asia. This achievement can only be attributed to Jonathan’s infectious passion for taking Lynx continually to new levels.

Incredibly proud of the media platform which has been established, you may think that Jonathan would struggle to find a favourite personal achievement. Well, if I were a betting man, my money would be on the exponential rise in interest that has been generated over the last few years in Futsal. With Lynx’s record-breaking fifth Domestic Futsal title coming this year, and the sixth year of UEFA Champions League participation, I know that 2015 holds a very dear place in Jonathan’s heart. Responsible for organising and hosting the first-ever UEFA Futsal Champions League Preliminary Qualification Round to be held in Gibraltar is something that our CEO and the Lynx family will never forget. A tremendous privilege to not only represent Club and Country, but also to be chosen to host visiting UEFA teams was genuinely inspiring – hard work, but inspiring!  

Lynx Futsal will be live-streamed for the first time next season, and we will be streaming our victorious Futsal team as they embark upon another UEFA campaign abroad. 

I think we have established that Jonathan has been the driving force behind the Lynx global brand, so I thought I would finish with a couple of things that you may not know about Jonathan.

Married to the beautiful Alicia and with four lovely children, two boys and two girls; a 10-year military career with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and currently an IT manager at STM, Jonathan somehow finds time to help others. For over 12 years, Jonathan has established, driven, supported and delivered many charitable initiatives; local support groups; youth enterprises and support networks for vulnerable people and groups in need of help outside of Lynx.  

In 2011, he set up ‘Gibwork’, a non-profit organisation to help provide guidance and support to unemployed people having difficulties finding employment. His aim for this group was simple – to help individuals find a Job. Offering advice, direction, support and personal dialogue, Gibwork is now established on Facebook with 50,522 members and provides a platform to a broader audience to help the unemployed community.  

We are fortunate and honoured to call him our CEO. 

For further information, please contact the club on lynxfc@mail.com or 200 69695.

All football fans can instantly name their favourite players, many wearing the names of them on the back of their shirts. The manager is also instantly recognisable; the man who gets much of the blame when it all goes wrong or the glory when things go well. But the Club Secretary? Few fans would even know who they are. Yet the secretary is one of the most important figures behind the scenes, a vital cog in the well-oiled machinery that makes a club tick over daily. Faceless, perhaps, but always there to check and double-check the fine details so that the players, manager and the committee members can smoothly get on with their jobs. They are the principal administrator for the club and undertake all administrative duties that enable the club and its members to function effectively.

Jimmy Cavilla became the first Club Secretary of Lynx FC in 2014. The responsibilities had previously been shared between the President and the owner of the club Mr Albert Parody. Supporting the club as a vital member of the Committee and was critical to the successful management of Lynx Football Club during the early stages of Gibraltar becoming the 54th Member of UEFA in 2013.

Becoming a secretary is not only a great way to meet everybody in the club, but also a great way to expand experience in their planning, communication and even financial management skills. These are voluntary roles, but they command a lot of vital workplace experience, and we are so grateful for the professionalism the secretaries have brought to Lynx FC.

Jimmy once said: “As Club Secretary, you have to have particular attention to detail. The better you put in the paperwork, the more chance you’ve have of getting it back quickly. Transfer deadline day was pretty mental. I didn’t get home until 11.45 pm. We put through three registrations in the last hour, the last one going through two minutes before the deadline. However there was a great satisfaction of accomplishment when you achieved your goal.”

In 2017, Jimmy had stepped down as Club Secretary and became the Treasurer. It was not easy finding a person to fill in his shoes. The Committee had agreed to temporarily appoint Deirdre Copello as the Club Secretary under the support of Jonathan Costa, CEO of Lynx Football Club. Deirdre’s commitment became an essential factor in 2019 as we entered the UEFA Futsal Champions League in Holland.  Communication was vital when travelling abroad, and we were lucky to have her on board. Often not seen as high profile, in actual fact a secretary is a crucial pivot point for all of the club’s activities. A key aspect of the role is to hold the player’s registration forms. The secretary keeps an accurate record of the players, including a copy of each player’s birth certificate, should any query arise regarding eligibility.

To do a good job, you need to understand your motivations and balance these off against the needs of the club. As a consequence, we felt it was time to bring in a permanent candidate for the role, as Deirdre also managed the Futsal administration.

When Jonathan approached Elaine Rodriguez in January 2020, he reassured her that she did not have to worry about knowing everything in a short period. We had a great team supporting Elaine during the early days of her appointment and knew she was not alone. 

Having assistants from the Committee helped spread her workload by working together, bouncing ideas off each other and generally enjoying the experience. Elaine soon became an asset to the club, saying that ”the role of the Secretary is gratifying and creates a lifetime experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else.”

Jonathan Costa, CEO of Lynx Football Club later added, “becoming a Club Secretary, your fellow committee members, your players, members, supporters and the community will be looking to you as one of the leaders of the club; the unsung heroes. We might be near the end of the season, but as soon as it finishes, it all kicks off preparing for next season.”

For further information, please contact the club on lynxfc@mail.com or 200 69695.

And may yet scupper Liverpool’s first Premier League title

CORONAVIRUS currently ravaging the global population, wreaking death and desolation across the cosmos, has claimed its first equine casualty, the world’s favourite and best known horserace bar none, the Grand National, that spectacular steeplechase so beloved of millions has fallen victim to the terrifying Covid-19 plague, the men in suits pulling the plug on the meeting after listening to the advice of the men in white coats that it would be foolhardy to allow a quarter of a million racing enthusiasts to mingle cheek to cheek at the iconic Aintree three-day Festival. A body blow for Merseyside, but worse was to follow with the deadly virus also triggering the suspension of the footy season just as Liverpool, for the first time, were about to be crowned Premier League champions, and are now facing selfish calls from certain clubs, motivated by naked self-interest, that the season be aborted and declared null and void.

So sadly the Aintree Festival, one of my favourite race meetings of the year, is another Corona casualty, further platforms to showcase their talent denied to recent Cheltenham victors seeking more glory, or opportunity for the Prestbury Park vanquished seeking redemption. Alas no Liverpool Ladies Day, always a joyous Friday gathering of the city’s finest females, beauties of all shapes and sizes, uncomplicated, tittering, some tottering, hanging out, eschewing Pimm’s for pints, no Royal Ascot ice maidens here, lovely girls, all determined to have a good time.

But above all, the cruellest blow is that tiny Tiger Roll has been denied the opportunity to rewrite Grand National history by winning the great race three times in a row, the doughty County Meath warrior had been installed as short-priced favourite to emulate mighty Red Rum by completing the National treble in consecutive years, despite being lumbered with top weight by a soulless handicapper who had the discretion, but refused to lighten pony-sized Tiger’s load by what could have proved to be a vital few lbs – a man-made blow to the chances of the history seeker, before the attempt was totally erased by what is also increasingly looking like a man-made intervention, Covid-19, the ghastly virus that is now catastrophically raging out of control across the entire planet.

All is not lost though in Tiger’s quest to rewrite the Grand National history books, his ebullient trainer Gordon Elliott recently stated in a BBC Radio 4 interview that the 2021 renewal will be his stable star’s main objective, and at 11 years, age will be no barrier to the chances of the equine phenomenon achieving the impossible – three Nationals in a row, a feat that proved even beyond the King of Aintree, the legendary “Rummy”. Here’s hoping we all survive the Corona pandemic and are still around to witness and celebrate the great day.

On the football front, calls to have this season’s Premier League campaign voided, abandoned and start again in August as if PL 2019/20 never happened, are wicked and shamefully selfish. Liverpool, currently an astonishing 25 points clear of their nearest pursuer with just nine games left to play, have been a joy to watch all season, their brand of football exhilarating, evoking memories of the golden Dalglish era, and to deny the Reds their first title since the abolition of the old First Division must not be permitted to happen.

Whilst calls to start afresh next August are deplorable but somewhat understandable from clubs fearing relegation and being shown the red card that bars entry to the bottomless PL treasure chest, it is comments from media celebrities like Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan, nurturing his insatiable quest to court controversy and keep his bloated ego firmly in the public eye, that cause intense irritation. “Motormouth” Morgan, an Arsenal fan like me, declared that although it’s tough on Liverpool, the season should be abandoned as though it never happened, and kick off a new campaign in August! No Piers, No, Premier League 2019/20 must be completed and the Reds afforded the opportunity to secure the few points needed to ensure that the championship crown ends up where it so rightly belongs – the Trophy Cabinet at Anfield.

Sponsorship is a crucial source of income as much for clubs as for leagues, federations and even players. Getting the right supporters takes time and effort. Sure, you can send out a cookie-cutter sponsorship proposal to a large number of companies, promise them “exposure” in exchange for sponsoring you and hope for the best, but at Lynx F.C., we make sure we understand a sponsor’s objectives for being involved, beyond branding. We help build relationships with our sponsor’s clientele and expand their network, we become ambassadors for them. Sponsorship will continue to develop in the coming years, as new technologies contribute to the progressive professionalisation of the sector, allowing for increasingly profitable investments. 

Grupo Casais has been an integral part of Lynx F.C.’s success for over the past three years and a loyal force behind the reigning Futsal champions. This season we were thrilled to also secure “Resolve Salvage & Fire” as the main sponsors of the Senior Football Team along with GBZ Media and Gibraltar Insight.  

These partnerships have been visible in our 2019/2020 campaign with the Football team sitting in fourth place – short of third which qualifies for a UEFA competition. Clubs qualifying for Europe are reaping the benefits financially and this expands their opportunities, both in terms of assets that can be sponsored and the activation of sponsorship rights. 

Developing a sponsor partnership can be beneficial for any team in the national league, especially for those not qualifying for the UEFA Competition. It has helped Lynx F.C. finance travel costs, equipment, grow the youth infrastructure and shoulder other investments. At the same time, our sponsors have benefited from increased exposure and a positive marketing opportunity. However, finding a sponsor with whom there is a genuine synergy and to whom you are able to deliver exactly what they are seeking can be challenging. We understand that it only takes one mistake to lose a deal. Knowing what to look out for is half the battle, as are persistence and resilience. 

Seeking sponsorship is time-intensive especially with volunteers at the club, and takes a lot of hard work. For that reason, it’s usually not a thing that someone can do on the side. This is why the Lynx Committee has worked tirelessly as a team placing time, energy and belief to make it work. Pulling together increased our chances for success and we are extremely proud to have gone the extra mile for our sponsors, who are the backbone of our Club. We wouldn’t be writing this article to start with if it wasn’t for the support from the Gibraltar Insight team, who give us this page each month, in addition to cash sponsorship. 

Finding a sponsor is not just about a financial transaction, but creating a real opportunity with measured deliverables and forging long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial. We’ve never been afraid to ask, we may be told no, but as long as we’re determined and don’t give up at the first hurdle, we’ll be sure to succeed. We will forever be grateful for all those that believed in us and help Lynx F.C. continue to grow. 

Please get in touch for more information about sponsorship: lynxfc.com 

You can learn more about our main sponsors here: 
Grupo Casais: www.casais.pt/en/ 
Resolve: Salvage & Fire: www.resolvemarine.com 

For further information, please contact the club on lynxfc@mail.com or 200 69695.

Unlimited feast of free wine, beer and soft drinks while watching the boys on the baize is the tantalising prospect for World Pool Masters premium ticketholders at the Europa Sports Complex this month!

Gibraltar’s ever-increasing participation in global sport takes another giant step forward this month when the nation once again stages the World Pool Masters, a leading tournament featuring the sport’s elite players, household names from many lands coming together at the new state-of-the-art Europa Sports Complex, all eager to hustle their way to stardom, each one chasing the same impossible dream of donning the Mosconi mantle of greatness, all eager to emulate legendary Willie Mosconi, the 15-time world pool champion and the greatest ever exponent of the game, whose exploits on the table meant the game’s popularity rapidly grew throughout the sixties and seventies in the saloons and gaming halls of the United States and far beyond, giving birth to modern-day showdowns like this month’s “Shootout on the Rock”.

Four action-filled days, from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th March, will see 24 of the world’s top cuemasters congregate in pursuit of the first prize of 25,000 dollars from the tournament’s total prize fund of $100k – apologies for expressing the prize money in greenbacks, but ever since the looming spectre of Brexit hoved on to the horizon and sadly has now become a reality, administrators of major global sports, like football, golf and tennis have spooked at the possibility of currency collapse, have ditched the pound, preferring the perceived safety of Uncle Sam bucks – the centuries old maxim Sound As A Pound would now, alas, appear to hold sway no more in financial circles.

Sponsors will be hoping for a repeat of the excitement of last year’s epic final when Spain’s David Alcaide emerged as champion, pipping Greece’s Alexander Kazakis 10-9 in a thrilling decider,  clinching victory with an awesome table-length double pot, a spectacular shot that brought the crowd to their feet and the Masters’ title to the Spaniard for the second time.

Alcaide is back this year to defend his crown and will be joined by the sport’s finest from all over the world, a stellar cast including Russia’s European champion Feydor Gorst,  United States Open champion Joshua Filler from Germany and two-time tournament winner Shane van Boening, an American who seems to have been a staple of the sport forever. The lineup contains a great global mix featuring contestants from China, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and Britain is represented by tough as teak Glaswegian, 31-year-old Jayson “Eagle Eye” Shaw who has been playing pool from when he was a tiny tot of five years and who relishes the prospect of winning his first Masters to go with the multiple honours won in a long outstanding career.

Gibraltar, shorn of the shackles imposed by  a recalcitrant and belligerent neighbour that had for decades vetoed admission to major sporting bodies such as UEFA and FIFA, is now revelling in its new found role of hosting global sporting events – football has seen The Rock welcome international hotshots Denmark, Switzerland and Ireland, while at club level both Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers have come calling, with darts, snooker, chess and last year’s acclaimed Island Games putting this tiny nation under the world spotlight – and now this picture-postcard location will add the prestigious World Pool Masters 2020 to its burgeoning portfolio.

While glancing at the media release advertising the event, my eye was drawn immediately to the line that jumped up off the page right at me, the promise of ‘unlimited free beer and wine’ to premium ticketholders – what….? Yes, it’s true, make merry and watch the World Pool Masters with as much Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and pints of bitter you can ship on board, and don’t worry if the little woman decides to tag along, there’s plenty of the soft stuff to keep her happy. I can’t wait.