"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door" - Milton Berle
Most entrepreneurs do not wait for opportunities to knock on their doors before reacting; they challenge themselves and create one out of nothing. Uplift11 is one challenge founded by a passionate entrepreneur, Michael Ede. Uplift11 is a platform where talents are sourced primarily with the view to harness their potential for the long run.
Michael Ede is a multidisciplinary and FA-licensed football intermediary and the CEO of Uplift11. He has championed the management of sports talents career through his sports venture, which currently represents young and experienced football athletes across the UK, Europe and is now extending the opportunity to the African continent. They also represent coaches and other sports consultants across the globe.
Other than being a sports intermediary, Michael Ede has been working in the business industry for more than a decade. He has proven himself as a manager and leader at several companies and has managed to change the company's strategies for the better. Learning from his previous experiences, he launched Uplift11 under the parent company Maigmike Consulting and managed upcoming footballers.
A chance for the underrated African footballers to shine
In the context of the sporting world, relationships and management are crucial in order for athletes to channel success. This is especially the case in the fast-changing landscape of football, where contract negotiations can make or break a career. Having the skillset to understand the nuances of the profession is key.
Hiring or joining a talent management agency may not be a huge deal for practicing footballers around the world, but it is for African footballers. Not being exposed to the professional world of football and sports in general, the talented African sportsmen have a tough time approaching and blending with a sports career management agency. To cater to the increasing demand of African footballers and the passion for helping and guiding his people towards the good, Michael Ede started Uplift11. Ede's sports career management agency supports and motivates African sports athletes to join forces with a forward-thinking, dynamic, and one of the fastest-growing sports talent management agencies in the UK. Its unmatched focus is channeled towards enhancing the success of sports talents.
Being of Nigerian descent, Michael Ede wanted to bring forward the talent of Africa. He is well-informed of the potential the African footballers had and wanted to channel it correctly. As an FA-licensed football intermediary, he knew the importance of having a mentor. With the help of a mentor and proper management, a player exercises their potential to the fullest and tests themselves against challenges they may face in their career. When a sportsman enters the world of professional sports, there is a lot more than they have to focus on other than their skills.
World-renowned footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar are more than just players; their groomed personalities and presentation before the media have turned them into a living brand. The sports world has significantly evolved from being 'only sports' to sports and a lot more. From acting, modeling, endorsing and performing, a sportsman today should be an all-rounder.
Uplift11 is a perfect platform for African footballers and players from other nationalities to have their talent channeled the right way. The experienced team has trained and managed many sports professionals and knows how to turn a nobody into somebody.
Recognition for their Services
Having made some strides in the sports management domain, Michael Ede and Uplift11 were recently featured in notable news platforms for their meticulous and thoughtful service to global sports. Their services have helped galvanise the careers of sporting talents around the world, especially in Africa.
Arguably, Uplift11 brings a level of experience, energy, and credible platform where African athletes can flourish and find success. This brings home few questions we need to ponder on:
"What is that challenge that's stopping young African talents from taking their first leap of faith? What is that drive that they need that would "build that door" of opportunity for them?"
Most talents across Africa have the same enthusiasm, tenacity, willpower to stir up the inner thoughts within them. Uplift11 recognises their strength and potential to be the leaders and icons for tomorrow and putting their best foot forward to represent them.
