Right and wrong

By: André | June 2nd, 2009

Some say Flamengo is not working to improve, that the board is a complete mess and they are not trying to make the best decisions to the team. I disagree. True must be said, so here I am to do it.
It’s known that Flamengo is on the hands of the same people for decades, just like almost every other team. We now have a R$ 300 million debt, something around US$ 150 million. I am proud to say we are the greatest in something else than supporters.

On the other hand, I am also proud to say we have a striker like Adriano, midfielders like Kléberson and Ibson, back-wings like Leo Moura and Juan, a defender like Ronaldo Angelim and a spectacular goalkeeper like Bruno.

I am proud to say that the board is trying to bring cheap alternatives so all these players above can still be our players, and that they are searching quality alternatives, such as Adriano. These are players that, even tough Flamengo doesn’t pay on day, they still enjoy playing here.

And more than these entire things, I am proud to say we still have the largest number of supporters on the whole world and that it still raises above all the other brazilian teams supporters growth rate. I still don’t know what, but something must have been done right.

One thing I know is that Nike is no longer our sports material sponsor. This was decided last week and they will continue with us until the end of the contract (it lasts until june 31st). When we reach july 1st, Vulcabrás (a brazilian company controlling some names here, as Reebok) will be the new sponsor by the name of Olympikus, paying R$ 21 million (about US$ 11 million). It is going to be US$ 3 million more than we use to receive from Nike. Besides that, they will pay half million more, so they can expose one of their names (Olympikus Tube) on our jerseys sleeves. They are also paying a percentage of Adriano’s wages and giving us US$ 4 million so we can build a museum.

The marketing enforces adopted by the board may also be here as a great thing. The website is better, some promotional t-shirts are being sold to help pay the basketball team and bring money to the club. There is also a campaign that the supporters can choose which number Adriano will use (9 or 10). And the most impressive fact is that these campaigns are working. Last week I went to the match against Santo André and saw some t-shirts to celebrate the Rio State Champions and our supremacy on our State. And I must say, what an ugly t-shirt.

I am also happy that the board is releasing some expensive and not so good players. And remember when I said Adriano is ours now? Ok. He debuted last Sunday against Atlético-PR on Maracanã. But that will be next post. One new post will be about Adriano and a new one about the supporters.
Now, without Obina and with the helpful Adriano, I have the chance to see an Brazilian Champion Flamengo.