ASU Sports Business Podcast

#55: African Warriors Fighting Championships w/ Maxwell Kalu

There has been much talk of MMA as a sport across the continent, especially in recent time. A sport that has strong roots across Africa with traditional wrestling forms such as Dambe extremely popular in West Africa. With the recent news of the Professional Fighters League launching in Africa in Q1 and leading athletes at the top of MMA such as Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman, Israel Adesanya & Dricus du Plessis. In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Maxwell Kalu, who is spearheading the growth of the African Warriors Fighting Championships. A growing tournament, currently in Nigeria, looking to take Dambe across the continent and develop the next stars of the continent. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction and Welcome [00:25] Exploring Traditional Wrestling and Dambe [00:56] Guest Introduction: Maxwell Kalu [02:47] The Cultural Significance of Dambe [05:15] International Appeal and Growth [07:39] Synergies with Global Combat Sports [10:55] Strategic Plans for African Warriors [13:25] The Genesis of African Warriors [19:05] Commercial Milestones and Media Strategy [28:31] Fighter Stories and Personalities [33:05] Future Prospects and Call to Action [35:34] Conclusion and Farewell Stay in the know: * ⁠Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter⁠ [https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/191z23pvcT8y1wp7FI2v6Mwexgac] * ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sports-unified/?viewAsMember=true] * ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/asunified/?hl=en] * ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/asunified?lang=en] * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAykUAfra4uPQzfDFkgq3w] * ⁠Our Website [https://asunified.com/]

#54: Part 2, The Evolving Impact Investment Landscape in Africa w/ Sporting Chance Fund

In our 2nd part of our podcast with the Sporting Chance Fund [https://sportingchancefund.org/], we delve deeper into the landscape of the investment sector of the African Sports market. With many global organisations assessing how to best enter the African market, this has also seen a growth in investors in the market too from wealthy individuals, angels investors and Venture Capitalists. Timestamp: * 0.00 - 1:30 - Introduction. * 1:30 - 8:50 -  Different types of investors involved with Sporting Chance Funds. * 8:50 - 20:21 - Challenges businesses in sport face.  * 20:21 - 24:00 - Sectors In sports investors are interested in. * 24:00 - 30:30 -  How can the sports business demonstrate its impact to attract investment? * 30:30 - 31:13 - Ending. Stay in the know: * ⁠Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter⁠ [https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/191z23pvcT8y1wp7FI2v6Mwexgac] * ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sports-unified/?viewAsMember=true] * ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/asunified/?hl=en] * ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/asunified?lang=en] * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAykUAfra4uPQzfDFkgq3w] * ⁠Our Website [https://asunified.com/]

#53: The Evolving Impact Investment Landscape in Africa Part 1 w/ Sporting Chance Fund

Would you say that there is a growing merge between investment and the African sports market? With many global organisations assessing how to best enter the African market, this has also seen a growth in investors in the market too from wealthy individuals, angels investors and Venture Capitalists. This episode, we take a deep dive into the investor landscape and assess how investment can be used as a catalytic converter to boost the African sports market and what really do investors look for before investing? Gabriel Ajala is joined by Charlie Appleton & Anjali Saini from the Sporting Chance Fund & Sebastian McKinlay. Timestamp: * 0.00 - 2:40 - Introduction. * 2:40 - 16:00 - Trends In African Sport Market. * 16:00 - 24:30 - The role of Challenge Funds & Catalytic Capitals. * 24:30 - 38:50 - Sporting Chance funds. * 38:50 - 44:30 - What are investors looking for? * 44:30 - 48:50 - Challenges and opportunities for investors. * 48:50 - 49:31 - Ending. Stay in the know: * ⁠Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter⁠ [https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/191z23pvcT8y1wp7FI2v6Mwexgac] * ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sports-unified/?viewAsMember=true] * ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/asunified/?hl=en] * ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/asunified?lang=en] * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAykUAfra4uPQzfDFkgq3w] * ⁠Our Website [https://asunified.com/]

#52: Developing a Multi-Sports Academy w/ Shola Opaleye

We have often heard of the growing football academies across Africa. Be it from global sporting brands establishing their own or more local academies. What if we were to inform you of an academy that caters to multiple sports, including swimming, basketball, football & more? Well, that is where City Sports Groups comes into play. A multi-sport academy based in Nigeria but with plans to expand across Africa. Gabriel Ajala sat down with the CEO of City Sports Group, Shola Opaleye, as they had a fascinating insight into the business model of a successful sports academy plus much more. Timestamp: * Introduction - 02:10 * Inspiration behind City Sports Group (CSG) - 04:38 * About CSG- 13:25 * How CSG operate in a competitive market - 17:20 * Significant Milestones - 21:58 * CSG football team - 25:35 * What next - 27:20 * Future of African Sport - 31:05 * Ending - 33:34 Download the Report: ⁠ASU AFCON 2023 Overview⁠ [https://mailchi.mp/83808761d745/afcon-report] Stay in the know: * ⁠Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter⁠ [https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/191z23pvcT8y1wp7FI2v6Mwexgac] * ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sports-unified/?viewAsMember=true] * ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/asunified/?hl=en] * ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/asunified?lang=en] * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAykUAfra4uPQzfDFkgq3w] * ⁠Our Website [https://asunified.com/]

#51: NFL Africa & BAL Season 4 w/ Kevin Bahun-Wilson

Do you think the NFL entering the African market is a positive development for Africa? Why has it only taken until BAL Season 4 for a powerhouse such as South Africa to stage a conference? In this episode, Gabriel Ajala and his guest, Kevin Bahun-Wilson (co-founder of ⁠Afroballers⁠) touch on these questions as they discuss the emergence and growth of American sports in Africa. This was an insightful and fun episode to hear first-hand the opportunities that the NFL & NBA have in store for potential and future athletes as well as the market growth opportunities. Timestamp: * Introduction - 02:15 * NFL in Africa - 08:53 * Past Players Involvement- 11:08 * Basketball Africa League - 18:35 * NFL/BAL Contribution to African sport culture - 25:25 * Ending - 25:55 Download the Report: ⁠ASU AFCON 2023 Overview⁠ [https://mailchi.mp/83808761d745/afcon-report] Stay in the know: * ⁠Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter⁠ [https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/191z23pvcT8y1wp7FI2v6Mwexgac] * ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sports-unified/?viewAsMember=true] * ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/asunified/?hl=en] * ⁠X⁠ [https://twitter.com/asunified?lang=en] * ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyAykUAfra4uPQzfDFkgq3w] * ⁠Our Website [https://asunified.com/]