Sporterio, a company owned by Egyptian businessman Ibrahim Mustafa and operating in our province, is bringing soccer teams from the Arabian Peninsula to Kocaeli for training camps. By ensuring that major clubs conduct their training camps flawlessly, Sporterio aims to add even more value to the city by bringing the world’s elite clubs to Kocaeli.
Founded as a partnership between Ibrahim Mustafa and Ismail Yaman, Sporterio quickly made a name for itself. Accelerating its operations in 2018, the company brought the Al Fayha team from Saudi Arabia to Kocaeli for the first time in 2019. Having hosted over 100 clubs to date, Sporterio provides professional training camp services to renowned sports clubs from countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Sporterio operates in Kocaeli and Bolu during the summer season and in Antalya during the winter season.
ADDING VALUE TO THE COUNTRY
Sporterio, which organizes training camps for 18 of the 24 teams coming from abroad, doesn’t just dominate the Arabian Peninsula. It also brings teams from Tanzania, Algeria, and Egypt in Africa; Romania in Europe; and Korea in Asia to our city. While the annual value added that Sporterio brings to the city amounts to $1.2 million, it not only generates foreign exchange for the country but also ensures that local tourism businesses and merchants enjoy a highly profitable summer season thanks to Sporterio. Sporterio also plans to implement new facility and field projects in collaboration with public institutions, primarily the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality.
MAKING A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION
Sporterio executives state that bringing high-altitude facilities to Kocaeli, similar to those in Erzurum and Kayseri, will ensure that the city’s golden age of sports tourism never ends. The company, which has implemented a draft project for a four-field facility in Sakarya and hosted some teams from the Arabian Peninsula there, aims to organize a similar event in Kocaeli. İbrahim Mustafa, noting that a similar project could be launched in Kocaeli, is confident that this will significantly contribute to both the city’s brand and regional commerce.
THE GOAL IS TO WIN AND HELP OTHERS WIN
Stating that the company’s goal is to win and help others win, İbrahim Mustafa said, “Kocaeli is a valuable city. Arabs love Kocaeli because of its proximity to Istanbul, its green natural surroundings, and its rich culinary culture. Teams holding training camps in Europe bring their own chefs and supplies. Europe’s biggest advantage is the field. If we can secure facilities here for training, we can make Kocaeli an even more attractive destination. We’re working with good intentions. We want to benefit the city. In this chain, we’re the ones who earn the least. I can envision great things happening here.”
Source: Özgür Kocaeli
