Gareth Johnson
After a meeting held to decide the fate of the Cambodian Premier League hosted by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and stakeholder clubs, it was decided to not renew the contract of CEO Satoshi Saito due to financial and commercial issues within the league.
Rumours of his imminent departure had been circulating for a number of weeks, but these were only confirmed following the meeting between authorities and clubs and their joint press release. It has also since been confirmed that not only would his contract, which was due to run out on December 31st not be renewed, but that he would also be leaving with immediate effect.
Why is Satoshi leaving?
In the words of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC for “failing to deliver on his commercial and financial obligations”, with them further explaining at the meeting held with clubs that not only had he essentially spent too much money, but had also failed to bring any in any substantial income, despite this being one of his main remits.
Despite the former Metfone C-League bringing in a reported $500,000 in sponsorship money per season,, which Sao Sokha, president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) commented was due to his own efforts, the CPL has not only remained without a key sponsor. In the opinion of the clubs given away too much to sponsors. It has been reported that many key sponsors pay through consumer goods that are gifted to players, rather than cash that can be distributed to clubs.
Read more: Cambodian Premier League aims to raise $3 million in sponsorship
TV rights were another bone of contention with Satoshi previously stating he would ‘raise 3 million’. In actuality the league failed to strike a TV deal in 2022 and for the 2023-24 season have once again renewed with national broadcaster BTV. It is believed that BTV do not pay much if any cash to the CPL, instead arguing that providing their equipment and exposure for sponsors is enough of a tradeoff.
However, this has meant that with no key sponsor for the league, nor any revenue coming from TV rights clubs have essentially been left to raise their own money, with money from the league consisting of small stipends given towards match expenses, as well as prize money for clubs that do well.
In this respects it has also been felt by many that Satoshi had ‘overplayed his card’ with regards to his commercial contacts, with Japanese Football Association even going so far as releasing a statement, denying they had any relationship with him, despite alleged claims to the contrary.
What has been the reaction of clubs?
Clubs from top to bottom have largely been happy about the decision to not renew the contract of Satoshi, with stakeholders generally upset about finances and the overall running of things, with one club manager telling Cambodia Investment Review, “costs ave gone up related to licensing, but we essentially getting less money”.
This was something also acutely felt in the league’s Second Division, where money given to clubs has been reduced, despite nine clubs going bankrupt or dropping out during the Satoshi era. As a representative from Angkor City FC put it, “We had a stronger second division under CNCC. Not only did we lose nine clubs in the last year, but money given to us by the league has been reduced. CPL 2 has also been turned into little more than a reserve league, which has diminished the value of the competition”.
These failures have particularly angered club owners as it has been suggested that the CPL has spent approximately $3 million during this period, with many stakeholders of the opinion that the money could have been spent better in other areas.
During the Satoshi era the CPL rented a large five floor office, despite having less than 10 staff.
One remit of the CPL had been to improve the sustainability of football as a business within the Kingdom, but as things stand almost all clubs are still reliant on having a rich benefactor, rather than income generated by clubs, or the competition.
What next for the CPL?
According to the FFC the long-term plan for a new company to be formed to run the league that is majority owned by clubs, as happens in major competitions such as the English Premier League. In this instance the clubs would now own anywhere between 60-80 percent of the new competition, with the balance being held by the FFC and potentially new sponsors who are brought on.
It was also suggested that the new competition would have a greater separation of powers, with there not just being a CEO, but the role being split into CEO, a technical director and most importantly someone to look after the commercial side. This would not only help with overall governance but would also remove having one person overtly being associated with the CPL, as many feel Satoshi has been.
Before this happens though clubs are keen to see the previous accounts of the CPL, and indeed if the reported $3 million was spent and indeed what it was spent on. When asked at the meeting between clubs and FCC if accounts related to the Satoshi era would be made available they responded that they would be open to “New owners, or potential owners” and that they had “nothing to hide”.
Yet while the CPL and FFC might be reticent to share this information, transparency and indeed a cash injection from the CPL will both be required if the league expects the clubs to not only take over the running of the game, but indeed make football in Cambodia a sustainable business.
