For today’s article, Carlos Cochon (player, treasurer, board member and coach) shares his personal and professional experience at HVV Football Factory. Carlos joined the club in 2022 and as a young board member, he is keen on improving the club and facilitating relationships.
Interviewer: “Could you please shortly introduce yourself, for those that do not know you?”
Carlos Cochon: “My name is Carlos Cochon. I am 19 years old. I am half Spanish, half Turkish, having grown up in Istanbul my whole life. I am both a player and treasurer of HVV Football Factory.”
Interviewer: “Which club do you support? Why this club?”
Carlos Cochon: “I grew up as a Real Madrid fan thanks to my dad. I have been playing since as long as I can remember. All of my early memories with my dad were watching football matches and winning many Champions Leagues together. Of course, I am also fond of other clubs. For example, my Turkish family supports Fenerbahçe, and even though most of my friends back in Istanbul are Galatasaray fans, I am the only one that supports Fenerbahçe because of my family. Also, Arsenal is my best friend’s favorite club, so in the Premier League, I am quite fond of them.”
Interviewer: “What was your motivation for being a board member at HVV?”
Carlos Cochon: “Since it’s my second year at HVV Football Factory, I also count myself a fan of this club. Even though the club is not professional or anything like that, I think my motivation for being a board member was the frustration of not having a say in many of the club’s decisions last year. I wanted to make a difference.”
Interviewer: “In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing HVV currently? Is there any possible solution to this challenge?”
Carlos Cochon: “Currently, I think one of the biggest challenges of HVV Football factory faces is not one that many people are aware of. This is because the board bears the responsibility of taking care of it. I think in the past there were some issues regarding the system of the board which created some difficulties for the current operations. Right now, we are in a bit of a rebuilding phase, and I think for the future, we will leave the next board members in a better position.”
“I became treasurer this year and I was not aware of many of the normal things that a treasurer might take care of, like bookkeeping, club’s balance and budget. Of course, I was taught to do the basics, but once you get the season going, there is a lot more work that surfaces and I was not aware of that. I think that one solution to this will be thoroughly educating the next generation of HVV board members. In this way, the club can run as smooth as possible”
Interviewer: “If you had to choose the best two things/benefits of being a board member, what would these be?”
Carlos Cochon: “Personally, I think the one of the two benefits of being a board member at HVV is experience. I think as a sports manager or future sports manager myself; this is invaluable because I am getting to experience a position I would never really pursue in the sports industry. This gives me a taste of what it’s like, as it is very similar to how a professional club runs.”
“Another favorite benefit is the fact that I can get to influence the club’s strategic vision, especially in the financial matters. Last year, I was able to identify many issues that I thought could be solved. So, I took the opportunity to try to make a difference.”
Interviewer: “How do you see HVV Football Factory in 3 year’s time?”
Carlos Cochon: “In my opinion, thanks to this year’s board, HVV will be in a much better place in 3 years’ time. We are setting up the foundations for future board members to continue upon with the budgeting system, finances, and the general organization of the board. I think HVV will be in a much better place. Many of the current issues we face such as lack of players and players not paying membership fees, will be minimized or even nonexistent in the future.”
Interviewer: “Finally, what does the club mean to you?”
Carlos Cochon: “When I first came into the club, I did not expect to become so attached. Now, I am both a treasurer and captain of one of our teams. I have grown much more fond of the club as time has passed.”
“This involvement had led me to become more invested in where the club is going. It means a lot to me, especially from all the experience I have gained, both and off the field.”
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