Kingsley Pungong (born 1976), is a Cameroonian sports Entrepreneur. Since 2009, Kingsley is the founder and CEO of Rainbow World Group and Rainbow Sports Global, an integrated media and sports company which owns properties and assets across the sports value chain. The group owns a Cameroonian football club, Rainbow FC, and Kenyan Football club Rainbow FC Kenya and have recently made an acquisition in Cote Divoire.[1][2][3] Between 2017 and 2024, Kingsley was the owner of a Czech Republican football club, Mfk Vyskov.[4] Kingsley is also the co-founder of the African Fighters League (AFL) which known to launch Dambe Warriors League in Nigeria.[5][6][7]
Kingsley Pungong | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kingsley Pungong 1976 (age 47–48) |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Alma mater | De Montfort University Harvard University |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Years active | 2007- Present |
| Known for | Sports business |
| Notable work | CEO at Rainbow Sports Global |
| Title | Founder and CEO |
Education
editKingsley holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from De Montford University in England. He is an alumnus of The Wharton School in the U.S and holds a Masters Degree in history from Harvard University.[8][9]
Career
editSince 2007, Kingsley worked for a Californian-based international agency, Wasserman Group which is among the leading agencies for talent managing markets like National Basketball Association and the English premiere league. He served as head of the group's strategy for the Africa, until 2009.[10]
Business career
editIn 2009, Kingsley founded Rainbow Sports Global. Rainbow Sports is an integrated media and sports company with several divisions founded strategically to connect the African football ecosystem to the world. The company operates globally providing management, marketing, and media solutions for football sports agencies, clubs and talented African football players.[11][12] By 2020, Kingsley through Rainbow Sports through its clubs had facilitated a number of player transfers to MLS, USL and European leagues, including Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua – China), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders – USA) and Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union – USA). Oyongo Bitolo was also one of Rainbow Sports' clients.[13][9][14] In 2022, Rainbow Sports announced the launch of the African Football Data Centre (AFDC), an open, digital platform created in support of the development of football on the Africa continent.[15][16]
Kingsley through Rainbow Sports is the owner of Rainbow FC, a football in Bamenda, Cameroon. From 2017, he was the owner of Mfk Vyskov, a football club in Czech Republic which listed him among few Africans to own a football club in Europe.[17] In January 2024, Kingsley Pungong sold Mfk Vyskov to the American investment group Blue Crow Sports Group, which also owns Spanish club, CD Leganés.[4] [18]
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ Ajong, Mbapndah L (25 March 2020). "Insight Into The Rainbow Model For Sports and Development In Africa". Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Africa's football stars are investing in the future of the game | Semafor". www.semafor.com. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "CD Leganes-Rainbow Sports partnership set to open doors for Kenyan players | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsport.co.ke. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ a b iDNES.cz, ČTK (15 January 2024). "Lídr druhé fotbalové ligy Vyškov změnil majitele, nově ho vlastní Američané". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Rapheal (23 December 2023). "Making Dambe Warriors League global remains our ultimate goal - Okeleke". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ apofeed (29 November 2023). "Dambe Warriors League (DWL) SuperFight 01 Amazes Largest Crowd Ever as Season 02 Launch is Announced". African Business. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ apofeed (20 December 2023). "Dambe Warriors League Announces Season 02 Launch and Strategic Partnership with MTN". African Business. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Kingsley PUNGONG". Africa CEO Forum 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Eric Ayuk and the tale of Rainbow FC". The Philly Soccer Page. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ rédaction, La (8 November 2021). "Kingsley PUNGONG, l'entrepreneur au service du football africain". CAMEROON CEO (in French). Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Rainbow Sports launches African Football Data Centre". THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora!. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Rainbow Sports: Changing the face of African football development | Goal.com Kenya". www.goal.com. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "CAMEROUN : Kingsley Pungong, l'entrepreneur qui influence le football Africain". Parlons Foot 237 (in French). 18 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Sports diplomacy is key for Malawi, says Woods-Nkhutabasa - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". www.nyasatimes.com. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Rainbow Sports Global launches revolutionary African football data centre". Intelligent CIO Africa. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Mureithi, Carlos (24 March 2022). "A Cameroon-born entrepreneur is trying to make African soccer more transparent". Quartz. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Kingsley Pungong: CEO and Founder of Rainbow Sports". 16 November 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Sunou (3 May 2010). "Former Chelsea captain visits Cameroon". Camfoot.com (in French). Retrieved 26 May 2024.