The ISF has launched an ambitious programme of investment for 2024.
CEO Thanos Papadopolous explains “In the past we have had a lot of volunteers, along with salaried stuff, mainly from the UK, to launch our project”.
“We have decided in 2024 to make an ambitious investment to the future by putting a range of staff on permanent salaries so they can work full time on Socca throughout the year.
“Mina Kourtzi from Greece will join us full-time to help with my office and role as CEO. Mina will be helping to organize and arrange tournaments around the world and everybody will see her at our events”.
“Julia Colter from Germany is our new Development Director and Julia is responsible for a key area of our business which is looking for new members across the world. Julia has immense experience with Socca and has been with our project right from the start”.
“Mareks Kere from Latvia is our Head of Referees and helps run our tournaments and we have now provided a significant budget for our referees team so they have control over their own resources and finances, as well as being paid staff.”
“Simon Grlec from Slovenia will be Deputy to Mareks and also join as salaried staff in control of a significant referee’s budget”.
“Krisztina Czeczei from Hungary will be our new Hospitality Manager and assist the President at some of our major events”.
Vedran Prga from Croatia is officially appointed TV Director and will now contribute to all events throughout the year”.
“Ivana Keles from Greece will deal with media inquiries.”
“Perhaps of great importance is our new social media team who have already, in the first few weeks of year, shown brilliant results. The team is headed by Dmitri Akimov from Canada assisted by Philipe Lariviere”.
Elsewhere Dimitra Mari from Greece is the ISF’s new social media Members Coordinator, and Tomasz Kosek from Poland becomes Creative Manager.
Dan Beddard and Rob Burke from the UK have been appointed Senior Commentators, with Howard Bentham, a former BBC newsreader in the UK, appointed Stadium Announcer.
Thanos said, “This is huge investment means that we now have staff spread right across Europe, and we hope after the America’s Cup we can take on more people in the Americas region, and in other Continents as we spread Socca to every nation on the planet”.
“This investment makes it clear to the world of small sided football that not only are we the true leaders of our sport, but anybody who is serious about playing our sport needs to be involved in Socca and I look forward to welcoming everybody who wants to come with us on our journey”.