Leandro Birollo: Clubs are like Tetris, fitting pieces to grow | OneFootball

In a relaxed conversation with Darío Pignata on ADN for Radio GOL 96.7, the president of the Liga Santafesina de Fútbol, Leandro Birollo, analyzed the current state of the institution. In a complex economic context for the clubs, the leader highlighted the growth in infrastructure, financial challenges, and the ambitious project for the League to definitively recover its flagship property.

A Financial Tetris to Sustain the Clubs

Birollo did not hide the economic reality that the region’s institutions are facing. When asked about how clubs deal with fixed costs, the president used a clear metaphor to describe his management: “I always say that clubs are like Tetris, and we have to fit each piece together in order to grow.”

To ease the burden on the entities, the League implemented a system of bonuses through youth tournaments, allowing the monthly maintenance cost to be zero for those who participate. “Nowadays, for a club to be in the league, there are three expenses: league maintenance, which is currently 400,000 pesos per month, insurance, and referee fees. The idea is to make playing in the league as low-cost as possible.”

The Payment Plan for the Nery Pumpido Complex

One of the most critical points of the interview was the ownership situation of the League’s property. Birollo revealed that when he took office, he found a million-dollar debt and an expired mortgage that put the institution’s assets at risk. “When we took over, there was a debt of 1,060,000 dollars. With a mortgage that had been expired for five years, not a single dollar had been paid to the people of Santa Fe Fútbol, who were the owners of the property.”

After tough negotiations, a payment agreement was reached to guarantee long-term ownership. “We negotiated and managed to reach a deal of ten installments of 105,000 dollars. So far, we have paid two installments. By following the steps, in eight years the property will be 100% owned by the Liga Santafesina.”

Works and Improvements on the Playing Fields

Improving the fields has been a priority for the current administration. Birollo emphasized that work is underway for the Nery Pumpido Complex to become a center of excellence capable of hosting preseason training for national-level teams. “We closed field three. The idea is to have one more field to give field one a rest and start taking care of it, and to have that field almost as a showcase for important matches.”

This incentive has spread to the clubs, where institutions like El Pozo, Alto Verde, Los Canarios, and Ciclón Racing have made significant investments in their own grounds. “Starting to work on the league’s playing fields has encouraged the clubs to motivate each other, understanding that the only way to grow is for the facilities to grow.”

Training and the Educational Role of Football

Beyond the sporting aspect, Birollo focused on the training of coaches and the social impact of the League, which now has around 20,000 registered players. The leader lamented that, despite having speakers of the caliber of Leonardo Madelón or Juan Antonio Pizzi, attendance at the talks has not met expectations. “We want to be the best but we do little to become the best. In order to grow, the leadership must ensure that the trainers get proper training.”

For the president, football is the most powerful educational tool in the region. “It’s the only place where kids arrive, leave their cell phones in their backpacks, sit down, and listen to the coach. We believe the coach must be as well-trained as possible to be able to transmit values.”

Refereeing and Future Projects

Regarding complaints about referee costs, Birollo defended the current fees by comparing them to other leagues in the area, although he was self-critical about the professionalization of the referees. “Forty people attend the classes out of 180 referees. Today they have all the tools, but unfortunately, attendance at training and courses is not what it should be.”

Finally, he revealed that the League is seeking to regain media visibility through its own program, which is already in the works, although it is part of a structural priority scale. “The idea of having a Liga Santafesina program is well underway, but right now we are tackling many structural fronts that are priorities. I don’t think it will be long before the league has its own live program.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.