By: Haya Sedki  

ESLSCA University’s launch of its Sports Management department took center stage at the third edition of SportsExpo on Feb. 26th, 2025. The event brought together various sports businesses, from clubs to equipment manufacturers, each with a booth. It gave Year 1 Sports Management students a chance to meet professionals, learn from them, and build connections in the industry. 

Among those in attendance was the Minster of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, who praised ESLSCA’s initiative.  

“The courses and programs that ESLSCA University offers are a significant addition to the development of Egyptian sports,” said Sobhi. 

The Sports Management program, which was officially introduced at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, is the first of its kind in Egypt to offer a full bachelor’s degree in sports management within three years.  

Designed to combine academic rigor with hands-on experience, the program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the sports business world, whether in team management, marketing, event coordination, or sponsorship negotiations.  

“I’m interested in sports management because I watch football all the time while also being a football player, I find this field fascinating as it’s a relatively new and exciting area in the world,” said Yousef Abdoun, a year 1 student enrolled in the program. 

With his background as a football athlete, Abdoun is eager to deepen his understanding of the business side of sports.  

“I expect to learn a lot about management in general and gain an understanding of how the football business works,” he added.  

Skills such as strategic planning, finance, budgeting, marketing, branding, and event management are crucial in this field. 

Professor Osama Abdelkareem, Board Director of Sports Management and Professor of Sports Science at ESLSCA, emphasized the nature of this program, noting that the university’s emphasis on practical experience sets it apart from other institutions.  

“We focus heavily on hands-on experience so that our students can see the real world of sports management and prepare for it effectively,” he said.  

As this is a new major in its first year, the program is still exploring events and experimenting with potential hands-on experiences for students such as being part of events or planning events such as the 5k run that took place Dec. 13th, 2024 

Adding to the significance of such events, Captain Diaa El Sayed, the coach of the Egyptian Under-20 football team and the national team coach during the 2011 World Cup, shared his perspective on the value of SportExpos and similar events.  

“Events like this are outstanding and should be held more globally, especially in the Middle East,” said El Sayed.  

“I’ve attended this event twice, once in Qatar and again in Dubai, and I see that it’s a big step for us because it covers multiple fields, from sports to the manufacturing of sports. It’s really important, even financially.”