Real Mallorca play their first game against Bilbao Athletic in 20 years, at the new Son Mames (nicknamed “La Catedral”) on Saturday at 12 midday.
The Basque club are the only “B” team playing in La Segunda after the demise of Barça “B” last season and it’s the only La Liga pitch used in the league, so it will be in pristine condition, unlike the surface of the Son Moix pitch here in Palma. The Basques will be a dangerous outfit as it’s a case of played two, lost two for them and they’ll be keen to get back to winning ways.
For Mallorca, coach “Chapi” Ferrer has been forced to make two changes. Young German ‘keeper Timon is away on international duty and Jesus Cabrero will substitute. Paraguayan striker “Torito” Acuña will also miss out through suspension. He’s been a lucky boy after his horrendous two-footed tackle on a Ponferradina player last Sunday saw him given a straight red.
The disciplinary committee decided in their wisdom to only hit him with a one-match suspension so he got off lightly. New signing Rolando Bianchi is expected to lead the line.
We have probably got the strongest squad with the money available for a long time and have at last got two players for every position, with a slight over abundance of centre backs – five! Joining the travelling party was new signing Abdoul Sissoko (at the last count I made it there are about 20 Sissokos playing football in the various European leagues!), who was on the aircraft to the Basque country yesterday lunchtime.
During last week Herr Claassen’s right-hand man Michael Blum was in Equatorial Guinea visiting the facilities of the Cano Sports academy in the capital Malabo. The principle objective of the trip was to establish relations with the club with a view to bringing young players to Palma.
The other reason for Blum’s visit was to get the Guineans (who are Spanish speakers) on board as sponsors. Forget failed coups, danger money and bush meat – they’ve got buckets of oil! Another bit of shrewd business acumen from our German owners.
At a rough guess, there are around 70 expat fans who regularly attend home games at the Son Moix. Unfortunately, there are about the same amount who for one reason or another used to attend but don’t any more. I had a discussion over a few “cañas” the other day as to whether there’s a difference between a “supporter” and a “fan.” Most people perceive that a supporter is someone who follows the team by actually watching them live, therefore putting hard cash revenue in the club coffers.
A fan, on the other hand, is claimed to be interested in the team’s fortunes but doesn’t make the effort to help out financially, not attending games unless they are against one of the better teams. Joy, outrage, hope, despair, there isn’t a football supporter who could claim they haven’t experienced all these heart-felt emotions. Whether it’s the elation felt seeing your team win or a tear shed when they lose – football is a sport fuelled by emotions.
Once upon a time local supporters who went to games made up a significant proportion of club revenues. So far this season our ticket sales have reached 9,400 and rising, and being an island, our attendances are almost entirely made up of Majorca residents. We’re a small team at the moment playing in a poor standard league, trying once again to punch above our weight. I get so angry with some expat football fans who are the first to criticise the team but who’ve never been to watch Real Mallorca because “the football is crap” – if I had a euro for every time I’ve heard that, I’d be able to leave my pension alone. There are no quick fixes for our club, we can’t bankroll success due to severe financial restraints but I really think we’ve got the right mix this season to bring those missing fans back next season when we’re back with the big boys.
A true football supporter is someone who follows their local team whatever division they’re in and doesn’t jump on the bandwagon of top sides because they’re winning. Real Mallorca supporters accept their team for who and what they are, following “Los Bermellones” through good and bad.