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Prime Sports wasn't born overnight. Mark Wareing, the co-founder, arrived in the UAE in 2015 with a passion for sports development. He honed his skills managing a football academy back in the UK, and upon arriving in Abu Dhabi, he gained valuable experience working with established organizations like Manchester City and Regional Sports. Recognizing a gap in the market, Mark partnered with Mohamed Al Hosani, a basketball enthusiast with a deep family legacy in UAE sports. Together, they launched Prime Sports in May 2018. Their vision was to provide Abu Dhabi students with a premier sports experience, offering a variety of programs and fostering a supportive environment that empowers young athletes.
Prime Sports' initial success came at a price: a burgeoning administrative burden. Juggling registrations, scheduling practices and games, and tracking payments across multiple sports and facilities with a disjointed system of Excel sheets, registers, and individual payment methods created a logistical labyrinth. This manual approach consumed valuable staff time and resources, diverting their focus away from their core mission of training young athletes.
Classcard streamlined operations by offering a centralized hub for registration, scheduling, and payments. It made information readily accessible, empowering coaches with instant student information and allowing parents to conveniently manage their accounts. Mark emphasizes Classcard's importance, saying, "It's an integral part of the operation."
Mark Wareing's passion for sports extends far beyond the business of running an academy. His favorite coach from his youth, Coach Shaun, exemplified the perfect blend of expertise and personal touch. At Prime Sports, Mark strives to create a similar environment. Technical and tactical skills are important, but building a strong team culture and fostering connections are equally valued.
Looking ahead, Mark envisions Prime Sports becoming the leading sports academy in Abu Dhabi. Expansion into Dubai and Saudi Arabia is a natural progression, but the core focus remains: to be a top academy that fosters talent and potentially even develops a professional team.
Mark admits his biggest takeaway since starting Prime Sports is the importance of perspective. As an entrepreneur, constructive criticism can be misconstrued as a personal attack. He's learned to embrace feedback and better understand the cultural nuances of his clients. At Prime Sports, they strive for a blend of European coaching methodologies with a welcoming and accepting approach that celebrates the local Arab culture.