Three entrepreneurial UCFB Wembley students are already influencing the international football market after setting up their own sport management company.
Avalon Sports Group is the brainchild of Saad Wadia, Raj Shah and Lorenz Essing, and the trio have already made their mark less than 18 months after they started by playing a huge part in international deals. Their initial aim is to connect the English and Indian markets before exploring Asia further.
This summer they travelled to India for a series of meetings and key networking events. Among them were three meetings with Indian Super League (ISL) club chairmen, attending the launch of Premier Futsal and visiting the Liverpool Football Academy in Pune.
Since the trip, Avalon has successfully negotiated a sponsorship deal for UK brand Crep Protect to be the official shoe care partner of ISL giant Chennaiyin FC. The trio also helped facilitate former Chelsea player Michael Essien in getting his first ever TV role for MBC Pro Sport in Saudi Arabia.
Now back in London and in their third and final year at UCFB, the trio are balancing their company and degree. Current projects include working with Sport Convo, whose ambassadors include Gareth Bale and Virat Kohli, to help set up their YouTube channel.
Saad, a BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing student, said: “As per the latest forecast by the IMF and the World Bank, India is projected to grow at 7.6 per cent in the next two years, which makes it the world’s fastest growing emerging economy.
“The Indian Super League is hoping to be the final trigger that attracts the masses to football, which is already the second most participated sport in India. With the right infrastructure we strongly believe there is an opportunity for us to export knowledge and talent from the UK to India. With UCFB being at Wembley Stadium, we are at the heart of football and surrounded by the wealth of the Premier League and The Football Association.”
Raj, who’s studying BA (Hons) International Football Business, added: “With an entrepreneurial background and the immense growth of the sport market today, it was the ideal time to co-found Avalon Sports Group. With our contacts and digital expertise, Avalon right now is focusing on emerging markets such as India and China and linking them with the UK. In today’s world technology, and in particular social media, is penetrating the sport market to new levels and plays an important role in bringing in new business like never before.”
