Whether it’s Argentina, Brazil or Spain, Romanian managers are counting down the hours before the long-awaited World Cup football tournament kicks off with host South Africa challenging Mexico. Romanian executives still remember the 1994 finals, while expatriates are placing their bets on the national teams of their home countries.
How are managers getting ready for the World Cup?
Sotirios Marinidis (photo), CEO of Procter & Gamble said he plans to watch all the World Cup matches, as much as his schedule allows him. Since P&G team in Romania is a truly cosmopolitan community, he decided that all matches in the tournament to be watched live from one of the rooms in the office.
Born in Greece, holding German citizenship, and overseeing group’s operations in Serbia, Marinidis says it is difficult to make a pick in a direct competition. “I hope that these football teams will get to the final stages of the tournament”, said Marinidis.
Businessman Jean Valvis says this year matches at the World Cup are definitely not to miss. “I’ve always watched every World Cup tournament, never missed one. It is a real pleasure to watch the event in front of the television and match it with a glass of good wine”, said Valvis.
Although he is sentimentally attached to Greece, he bets the odds-on winner is Brazil or Spain.
He’s never been to a world championship; the only tournament he went to was an Olympic Games edition. “I’m not gonna go that far. First of all, I am very busy with the launch of the mineral water brand. We have to focus on these things first and then afford the luxury to go that far”, said Jean Valvis.
Shmulik Porre, chairman and CEO of dairy producer Tnuva says there is no doubt about who will be lifting the trophy this year, Brazil of course. He will be watching most of the World Cup matches at home, or in pubs with friends. @N_
