A few weeks ago, Albion achieved something historic by sealing their promotion to First Division after more than 113 years without being at the top of Uruguayan football. Marco Cusumano, representative of US investors in Uruguay, talks to As about the arrival of foreign capital to the club, grassroots football and the future of the club.
How do you decide to bet on a club like Albion?
First of all because of its history. Soccer arrived in Uruguay with the English immigrants who landed in the country in the 1880s. From that date to the present, this sport is part of one of the most important cultural manifestations in the country. Albion was founded on June 1, 1891, with the distinction of being the first Uruguayan club dedicated exclusively to the practice of soccer.
Besides its history, Albion is a club with a lot of potential with an image / brand, logo, name (striking of England, the homeland of football) and the colors are very attractive. It is also an institution where a serious project can be developed without the pressure of immediate results from the fans.
How was the reception of the fans?
Currently Albion’s supporters are people directly or indirectly related to the club’s environment. In Uruguay, the fans are generally divided by 80% between Nacional and Peñarol. One of the great challenges of Albion is to generate an ever greater fans through sporting results, improving the image and brand of the club. Initiatives and events of a social nature are also developed. It will take time, but the promotion to First is already bringing very good results from this point of view.
Since the arrival of foreign capital, the club has not stopped growing. Do you want to further promote the club’s grassroots football?
The lower categories are going to be the main nucleus of Albion. A serious process is already being implemented that is already giving optimal results. In fact, this past weekend, the youths achieved promotion in the Youth A division. The objective of the project is to create an Academy that generates value in the social sphere. They do not want to train only players, but people with a football and cultural education so that they can face the challenges of life.
What goals does the club set for itself in the following years?
The first objective now will be, both at the youth level and in the first team, to win a stable place in the First team and at the same time continue to grow and professionalize all areas of the club. The idea is to get to compete in about two / three years in international cups and begin to create relationships and partnership with clubs around the world, especially in the United States and Europe.
“The first objective now will be to earn us a stable place in the First Division”
Marco Cusumano
Now with the promotion to First. Will there be a big bet on transfers or will the current squad remain?
The strong core of the team will be maintained, in this last season a human group has been formed that has been fundamental to achieve the victory of the championship, but clearly players of level and experience will be added to achieve our objectives.
The club has several disciplines. Today it has women’s soccer, beach soccer, eSports and an important academy. What is missing from the institution?
The idea is to strengthen the disciplines we have with intelligent planning and improving infrastructures.
I imagine that dream is to be champion of Uruguay. When could that special event happen?
That is our dream but I think we have to remain humble, work hard and keep our feet on the ground. Qualifying for one of the international cups is going to be the first big goal, and that will take less time.
