Thread by @BballNaija

There was a panel to discuss the business of sports at the 2018 Africa Investment Forum.

Panelists were Masai Ujiri (President @Raptors) Dr Rejoice Simelane (CEO MamelodI Sundowns) and Hon. Thokozile Xasa (Min of Sports, SA)

We’ll share highlights, let’s discuss.

THREAD!!! 😁

“Sports (and the business of it), is the biggest opportunity for the next generation of Africa” - Masai Ujiri

We agree with this totally. Most times, when discussions about the economic development of Africa is being held, sport is rarely mentioned.

We have the basic ingredients needed to have a multi-million dollar sports industry in Africa - people, passion, and talent.

The reason we’ve been unable to turn it around is because don’t think of things like Investment and profitability when it comes to sports.

This is also because sport is Government driven is major parts of Africa which makes it more political than econmical. A large number of the league clubs in Nigeria are state-owned and the only succeed if sitting Govs are interested in the sport.

It also means that leadership is usually by political affiliations and not experience and expertise.

There’s over reliance on Government fund which means there’s no incentive to improve on quality of the game, fan experience, governance, etc.

The fact is, until we develop our league (especially for team sports) from a business perspective, every grassroots development initiative will be a waste of time.

Here’s why;

1. We’ll become the talent exportation zone for developed leagues. They get to reap economic benefits

2. Grassroots development becomes easier and kids become self motivated if there is a big picture. That is what the @NBA is to America kids.

Just like Dr Simelane said, we have to make Africa green enough for our talents.

3. If the league and pro-players are successful, grassroots development becomes a collective effort between the Government, the league organisers and the players themselves just like @NBA and it’s programmes.

And like @amadougallofall shares, other sectors get to benefit.

So, where do we go from here? There’s an argument that the corporate sector needs to invest in sport. it won’t happen just like that,sport property owners need to make a case to attract them.

Chairman of Kenya Central Bank, Mohammed Nyaoga said sports over here isn’t bankable

The good this is that this creates new career paths for young African. We are smart people, no doubt about it, we only need to look at the opportunities abound and leverage on them.

We already see this trend in digital media, @TheTempleCo is also investing in talent mgt.

And the good part of it is that you don’t have to be professional athletes to develop a career in the ecosystem or value chain of sports.

Babalola Opeyemi (@OpeyemiBabalo13) the founder of Webber Engineering and brain behind Webber basketball uprights is a case study.

We can all argue otherwise that sports is being run as a business in Africa citing examples of some private owned sports club in Nigeria.

Here’s a litmus test as pointed out by Dr Simelane; beyond media rights, how many sports clubs have other sources of revenue?

To conclude, there is money to be made by all stakeholders within the sports ecosystem - athletes, owners, administrators, experts, investors, educators, even the Government - and this can ONLY happen if sport is considered as a business.