The Knowledge to Decide

The FIFA World Cup 2018 is widely seen as one of the best World Cups in recent memory, with many surprises and goals aplenty. One talking point was the role of teamwork as opposed to just superstar talent. What lessons can businesses learn from the beautiful game? Leon Perera, CEO of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts in The Business Times – Views from the Top section on 23 July 2018. As World Cup fever draws to an end, the game lived up to its hype with breath-taking goals and outstanding performances. Perera highlighted the role of 'team effort' over mere individual talent, which was evident in the early failure of teams with world-class superstars like Argentina and Portugal. Perera also pointed out the importance of investing in new talent pipeline development, which paid rich dividends for France, the winning team and also one of the youngest teams in the World Cup. The game also highlighted the role of risk-taking. A relentless approach t

Football has found yet another ttttttfan – this time in the form of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who hopes for China to lift the football World Cup in the future. Backing the growing interest in the sport, a real estate company – Evergrande – turned a rural southern China area into a Football School in Quingyuan, Guangdong, making it the largest football academy in the world at a cost of USD185 million. The 167-acre site has 50 pitches in addition to basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, a movie theater and swimming pool along with a gym, several canteens with even a library. It is home to 2,600 boys and 200 girls. A link up with Real Madrid means more than 20 Spanish coaches run sessions at the school alongside translators. Parents are even willing to pay up to USD9,200 a year – more than the average annual wage in China – with hopes pinned at their children to either make it to the national football team or play for Spanish clubs. Will China translate its