Prosport International

Prosport News

27 January 2012 - Meet The Team: Mike Makaab

Michael Anthony - Mike - Makaab is Prosport International's CEO. Now in his 11th year with the company, SA's first FIFA-licensed Football Agent splits his time between keeping tabs on client developments and making sure the agency grows from strength to strength.

Mike worked as an Analytical Chemist before moving on to construction and property development before switching to roles as Coach, Technical Manager and General Manager at football clubs including Stella Stars, Chatsworth Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Manning Rangers and Amazulu.

His desire for the Prosport International team is that they display an enormous desire and sincere enthusiasm to be the best at what they do.

Where were you born?: Johannesburg
Which city & suburb do you live in now?: Umhlanga Rocks, Durban
Where did you go to school/college?: Glenwood High School, Wits Technikon
What does a typical day look like for you?: I start at 4.30am – deal with admin matters (emails etc) and reach the office by around 8 am. Each day’s activities are diverse and interesting. I devote approximately 60% of my time to CEO duties and 40% to operational management. I train in the gym or go kick boxing an hour each day, spend a few hours of quality time with my family and usually close my eyes at around 11pm.
Who do you report to – and how many people report in to you?: I report to our group Chairman, Greg James and our three Divisional Heads report to me directly, although our structure is more horizontal than vertical, so we all interact with each other.
What do you miss most about training & coaching on a daily basis?: The “hands – on” practical environment involved in any form of coaching.
How did you go from being an analytical chemist and working in construction/property development to coaching and on to being an agent? By following my heart and doing what I truly love doing most. The day I wake up and think “....not another day at work” will be the time for me to move on.
What’s the best thing about your job?: Watching young aspiring sports people achieve greatness through hard work and dedication.
What’s your greatest Prosport achievement so far?: Being privileged to be offered the job of CEO.
Who would be your dream player to manage?: Lionel Messi – great both on and off the field.
What’s the most stressful part of your job?: Time management and managing the expectations of both the employers (football clubs, rugby unions, etc.) and our clients.
What did you want to be when you were at school?: An architect
What are your hobbies? How do you stay fit?: Collecting good wine (and drinking a little) and reading (mainly autobiographies and the Bible). To stay fit I work out in the gym and do Muay Thai almost every day
How long have you been married and how many children do you have?: 33 years to the most beautiful woman in the world, Charmaine and I have 3 children, Lisa (who has “given” me a grandson, Dylan), Taryn (my dancer) and Michael (who works for Prosport)
Tell us something nobody on the Prosport International team knows about you: I have played the guitar and sung since the age of 5. I played in my last band hardly 10 years ago. Some of the Prosport team already know this – they have listened to my music and survived!

Follow Mike on Twitter @mikemakaab

Front page image courtesy Private Edition Magazine