Interview with A.Ganbaatar, President of Mongolian Football Federation and PR Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia.

-Three months has passed since you were elected President of the Mongolian Football Federation (MFF). What has MFF done during this period?

-In general, we have considered structural matters. Three months are a short period to fulfill works, but enough to commence them. Works are going at full scale. The Premier League was recently launched. The National Cup, which included football players from all 21 aimags has winded-up successfully. Most importantly, we worked-out a map plan and defined a policy for the years to come.

-Football fans are aware of changes in the organization and prize fund of MFF tournaments. Could you clarify these?

-MFF is hosting three large games of the National Premier League, National League and Amateur Football Championship. The National Premier League consists of 9 teams, and the prize fund increased to Tgs100 million.

Four amateur teams and six clubs registered at MFF will be able to compete at the National League. Four teams gaining first place at the Amateur Championship will be promoted to the National League and so on. This is system is right for improving interconnection between the leagues and promoting and upgrading teams.

-May we understand that the Amateur Football Championship will be renamed the National League of the second level?

-This will happen next year. This year, it is open to 32 teams.

-As you said before, the prize fund increased from Tgs18 million to Tgs100 million which is sponsored by ‘Khurkhree’ brand. Are there any other changes in sponsorship and marketing?

-The federation plans to sell many products. On one hand, Football is a sort of business. It is commercial. Therefore, the Mongolian Football Federation pursues the principle “One product- one sponsor”. We are applying smart marketing. We recently succeeded in selling the Premier League games. The National League will be sponsored by Khurkhree brand with Tgs25 million. Amateur Championships enjoy a sponsorship of the Borgio brand. Junior teams are expected to attract sponsors as well. In addition, we are planning to form a women’s team.

-How big is financial fund allocated by FIFA to MFF every year?

-Each year, FIFA provides USD 250 thousand in financing. The same sum is given from the Asian Football Confederation. A total of Tgs500 thousand is spent by MFF.

-Will the sum increase or decrease depending on activities of the national federations?

-No decrease, but it is possible to go up. FIFA implements direct and indirect financing development programs. While choosing countries to benefit from its programs and projects, FIFA takes into consideration countries’ demand and necessities and divides them into three categories. Members included in the second and third categories are able to receive assistance from FIFA.

-In which category does Mongolia belong?

-The third one. This category involves countries where football is weakly-developed and need much assistance. But an advantage is seen here because it opens doors to all FIFA programs and projects. In other words, FIFA would back up any projects and programs submitted by Mongolia. So, we need to use fully all these opportunities to move forward. We need to develop our football.

-Could you clarify the difference between direct and indirect financing?

-Direct financing programs means programs charted to maintain stable operation of the national federations. This is the USD 250 thousand financing we talked about before. The indirect financing programs are carried-out in several different forms as “Goals” which are designed to improve infrastructure and back up low income federations. For example, we know the Goal project well. It has been implemented in 209 different countries since 1999. The main its purpose is to develop junior football, improve the competition organization, establish a football academy for juniors, and update football facilities and infrastructure. There is a project designed for low income federations to develop leagues, advance commercial activities, and build a soccer palace and hotel complex. A so-called performance project is a long-term targeted project charted to empower the leadership of member federations.

-How is the USD 250 thousand fund spent by MFF?

-For instance, Tgs400 million is spent on organizing the two tournaments of the national team.
The fund is spent on covering travel expenses of sportsmen for participation in training and workshops abroad and for federation activities as a whole, as well as staff salaries. Upon its reform, the federation is focusing on the stimulation of its rural branches’ activities. It deploys secretaries in all 21 aimags. We have ambitious dreams. No doubt, marketing is vital. We see 2015 and 2016 as the years of reform.

-I heard that MFF is studying the possibility of inviting a foreign coach. How many persons have you contacted?

-Mongolia ranks 200th by its soccer development level. To improve the rate is the priority goal of the federation. To reach it, we have to invite a highly qualified coach. So far, we contacted three coaches, one Italian and two Germans. The first one has experience working in a small country like Mongolia, but his conditions are high. The same is true for the two German coaches.

Since our national team does not expect a great game until 2019, we don’t need to invite foreign coaches demanding huge salaries. In general, we need a person who will combine the position of coach and technical director.

We need to accept that our resources are exhausted. We need a foreign model for training. It is time to change our policy. We need to change our awareness. We need one standard. We need to spark a star from football. If we lay the right base, football development will go right way.

Source: The Mongol Messenger