Adam Mitchell knows it will close the month in the red. The Auckland City advocate started work with real estate sales in New Zealand to play the Club World Cup – even knowing that the semi -professional team, fight for honor and an indefinite award.
“My job is 100% dependent on the commissions,” Mitchell told Reuters after.
“If I’m not selling, it doesn’t come in with money. But such a tournament requires sacrifices – and many here have done it.”
See the profession of each Auckland player
Collective sacrifice and money from your own pocket
The new format of the Club World Cup has been criticized for overloading the European football calendar. For teams like Auckland, the cost goes beyond the physical.
Many players – – are taking from their own pocket to represent Oceania in the tournament.
In addition, much of the annual clearance, limited to four or five weeks in New Zealand, had already been used in the qualifying tournament, held on the Salomon Islands.
“Some are in the negative, on unpaid license. It’s good that people understand what we sacrifice to be here,” said the defender.
Minimum awards, maximum respect
Even with cash awards for all participants, Auckland, representative of the lowest confederation of world football, will receive the smallest slice – a part of the $ 3.58 million reserved for Oceania.
Mitchell stated that the value is still being negotiated with the New Zealand Federation of Football.
On the pitch, the contrast between half-good athletes and global stars was evident. Bayern entered the field with maximum force, merciless from start to finish.
“Taking 10 goals is never good. But we face one of the best teams in the world. They haven’t relieved, and that, in a way, is a sign of respect.”
Pride above the scoreboard
Despite the historical result, the cast morale remains on the rise. Auckland still faces Benfica and Boca Juniors in the group stage. .
“Anyone who has seen the game knows we don’t give up at any time. We’ll keep fighting.”
In the common routine, Mitchell shares the time between real estate sales, night training and technician function at the club. The days start early at the gym and end late in the field.
“It’s not ideal for my wife,” he joked. “We hardly see each other, but she understands the sacrifice – and is also part of it.”
More than money: visibility
Even with the financial impact, Mitchell believes the exhibition can open doors. “It’s going to have seen the game, you know that I work in the industry and wants to talk … That’s how opportunities are created.”
Criticism of Auckland’s presence in the tournament do not bother. For him, the team deserved it.
“We are semi -professional, but we treat the club with full seriousness, as if it were professional, with the resources we have. We deserve to be here – and we will show it on the field.”
