www.bahrainthismonth.com 24 September 2022 Can you tell us a little about your fascinating career and achievements? Bahrain has been my home since 1987. I was initially a software engineer, working with several leading banks and hotels. During the Gulf War, when many software firms left the island, I found a window of opportunity when I got a call from a leading bank to fix a critical flaw in their system. I offered to solve their issue, only if they would sign an Annual Maintenance Contract with me. They were taken aback by my audacity as they would have preferred to pay me for a one-time job. Unwilling to settle for less, I chose to repair the problem for no payment instead. This astounded them and they went on to sign a contract with me and thus began by entrepreneurial journey. I now run an oil and gas maintenance firm contracting out of Saudi Arabia and India, a real estate venture, and recently entered the clean energy space with an electric vehicle company based in the US. However, sports is my passion and I was the person behind the Bahrain Premier League in 2018, which led to the revamp of the Bahrain Cricket Federation. None of this would have been possible without the vision and support of HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. I must also mention Mohammad Shahid – CEO, KHK Sports & President, BRAVE Combat Federation, who has been a great pillar of strength. What is your role within the Bahrain Cricket Federation? The BCF is flourishing; within a year of its formation, our national team won the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in Doha, while the women’s team have broken several world records. We built Bahrain’s first women’s cricket team in six months - women empowerment is one of our key agendas. Bahrain achieved global recognition by being awarded the ‘100% Female Cricket Initiative’ by the International Cricket Council. It makes me proud that we have accomplished so much in one year despite facing many challenges. We lack proper infrastructure to take our team to the next level. We play on sandy or cement grounds, which is not ideal. What are the plans to combat these challenges? Our plans include coming up with state-of-theart cricket facilities in Bahrain and hosting international cricketing events in Bahrain. We plan to promote sport tourism and, once facilities are ready, hope to host big tournaments. Currently, we send our coaches to various schools so we can participate in bilateral tournaments between different countries. We would need support from the business community and corporates to realise our vision. What is your advice for young and aspiring entrepreneurs? Money should not be your sole focus. Starting a business begins with an idea, followed by hours of research and reaching out to people that can help. Having a solid concept, wellresearched information and a strong network will set your future business up for success and for that you need to be your biggest critic. Finally, surround yourself with the right people, especially ones who will tell you the truth. With 2.5 billion followers, cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world. With the revamp of the Bahrain Cricket Federation (BCF) and the growing popularity of the game in the Kingdom, the rise of Bahraini teams in the international arena has been a source of immense pride. Farrah Saville speaks to the Founder and CEO of Saara Group, Mohammad Mansoor, who is also the Chairman of the BCF Advisory Board, about his efforts to further the game and his extensive professional career. interview Unstoppable The Bahrain Cricket Juggernaut
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==