Gabriel Dielacher is a Vienna based investment banker and someone who has for a long time been involved in the development of American Football in Europe. As of beginning of this season he is a partner in the roll out of the “Belgrade Vukovi”.

SELAF.com: How did You get involved in American Football and what are You currently doing?
Gabriel Dielacher: I started to play football in Graz, Austria almost 25 years ago at the age of 16. I finished my career in 1988 in order to complete my education, however continued to actively follow developments of AF in Europe. I have been in international investment banking for various leading European banks for more than 15 years now – Currently I am partner and shareholder with a privately owned Vienna-based investment house. During the past couple of years I have put my professional focus on acquiring and managing selected media companies in the region of South Eastern Europe. In Serbia I am supervising our investment in Blic Press, the leading Serbian publishing house.

Current Relationship with SELAF?
Earlier this year – I have managed to arrange a long-term partnership and marketing agreement for the Belgrade Vukovi with a goal to secure a stable financial base over a longer period of time, and I am acting as an advisor to the Board of Belgrade Vukovi in strategic matters. Related to my new role in Belgrade I am very interested to see American Football further develop throughout the region. Recently our firm supported an Austrian team to succeed on a top European level – however, apart from Germany and Austria, maybe Scandinavia and France there are not too many countries with well developing nationwide football programmes. I believe that the Football movement within Europe is doing well, but it has reached a point where it needs to develop new promising markets in order to further affirm its position. I am convinced that SELAF – for the time being – represents a perfect platform to promote Football in this part of New Europe. Therefore I am glad to assist in strengthening the SELAF-platform – on a case by case basis – especially in the fields of promotion and fund raising.

Strongest League in Europe?
For a long time the German League was “rumoured” to be the highest developed European Football League. However, in 2006 all 5 German teams, such as 4-times GFL-winner Berlin Adler and Eurobowl winner Hamburg Blue Devils lost against teams from Austria at a rather early stage of European championships. In the last couple of years the Austrian Football federation has done a great job in promoting the sport as well as the development of a broad player base on various team levels. In Austria kids start to play football at the age of eight or nine years and top teams have educated up to 500 active players on various levels. That will be the way to go for SELAF teams who would want to seriously catch up

How does SELAF compare with them?
The SELAF-teams have some three or four years of competition practise, where the leading German and Austrian teams have a record of up to 25 years of experience. However, from what I have seen so far, I am very convinced that some teams will be able to bridge the gap within a significantly shorter period of time. Compared to my Austrian experience I would position the current level of game in SELAF between the average and lower end of Austrian Div. I (i.e. 2nd league after AFL). However, I am very impressed by the excellent level of organization of League and Game Days. An attendance of 2000-3000 spectators week by week very well compares to top Austrian level – promotion and media coverage is also very well developed. SELAF-Teams can enjoy the advantage that they are able to learn from the lessons other teams and federations had to learn through bloody trial and error experience. The fact that NFL-games are broadcasted by local TV stations throughout the region is definitely a fact which will help to further increase public interest in happenings in and around American Football.

Your position on Import players in SELAF?
In general I believe that it is good to have a limited number of difference makers within a successful American Football team – difference makers who you can sell to your sponsors and fans and players who are representing a stimulating element for the rest of the team. However, I believe that in the current stage of development of SELAF it is much more important in investing time, brain and money in coaching, education, try outs etc. not only with the senior squad, but also on ”big boys”, youth level and below. Once a solid base has been established it will not be very difficult to acquire one or the other difference maker/superstar from overseas to complete the puzzle.

What do you consider to be a solid base?
200-250 active players per team on various age levels I would call a solid starting base – earlier an investment in a larger number of import players would only have short time effects.

SELAF in a few years from now?
A very difficult question and hard to answer – Definitely the future development of SELAF is very much linked with the development of American Football all throughout Europe and SELAF should be rolled out in close interaction with the developments on the rest of the continent – however, which way Europe will take in a medium term – we do not really know yet. Year by year top European teams are testing new limits and are proving that things can go even better once more. The region to be covered by SELAF will experience far above average economic growth, the people here are very open towards American Sports, advertisement spending is and will be increasing some 25% y/oy and media (print and TV) have started with solid coverage – a well structured and well promoted product called American Football should be able to conquer some part of the cake. I am convinced that Football in this part of Europe will not only remain to be a lot of fun but can one day – and especially in the region of New Europe – emerge to some kind of business. The steps undertaken so far by the League and its teams are definitely promising.