Opinion: Let us wake up (Carlos Argente)

Approximately fifteen days ago, Julian Castellblanque, sole director of Alser, S.L., stated in El Económico that “if the contribution of other sponsors does not allow the club to grow, we must consider whether the effort we are making is worthwhile”. The businessman adds that the red-and-white club has «the lowest budget in the division»,so its position at the bottom of the table is because “we are lacking better players, who can be secured with more money. Being known as a good payer helps, but it is not decisive, so we must ask the public, private and mixed companies that make a lot of money in Sagunto to reinvest part of it in the city”.  

 It is curious to observe how any news concerning our club’s sporting affairs receives dozens of comments for and against on our social media. However, the publication of Julian’s statements only prompted comments from a couple of people, both highly prominent socially in the city.

 Honestly, I believe that the supporters, the politicians and the rest of the city’s businesspeople all think that the support of a company such as Alser, provided continuously since 2005 and maintained despite the situation the company is experiencing at present, is something like an eternal and inexhaustible manna. Nothing could be further from the truth: the main sponsor of any club must be cherished by the rest of us, and we must give it daily reasons to renew its commitment. None of that is happening at present. And what is curious is that Alser is not asking to be replaced; it is asking for new public, mixed and private companies to join in so that the club can continue growing and give it reasons to renew its energy and support. I am saying this today just in case, although he may not continue, Julian Castellblanque will have earned the usual roundabout far more than others who boast of corporate social responsibility but do not spend a single euro on the most important club in their city.

 We are at a curious crossroads and we have to wake up. If someone, or several people, matches Alser’s financial commitment, we will have an Asobal team, or, if we are relegated, genuine hopes of returning very quickly. If nobody matches it, we will go back fourteen years in time and have a budget to compete in Primera Nacional, and we will have to wait another forty years for Alser’s successor to emerge—the successor of Juanjo Bataller, of Ramon Belenguer and of the 1,500 members, many of whom will be in a care home or opposite the new sports hall, that is, in the cemetery.

 Will we be capable of throwing everything we have achieved overboard because nobody is willing to join Alser on its adventure of continuing to look upwards? Politicians, please put aside your sterile ten-minute debates over petty matters and power, and lend a hand with something that genuinely creates unanimity among your voters. We have supporters from all your parties in the Ovni stands every Saturday.

Carlos Argente is Vice-President of Communications and Marketing at Alser BM Puerto Sagunto

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.