Qabala FK, hardly a household name in the UK but well-respected out
there.
"When I arrived they were in the process of building a new stadium
and training centre. I managed to reduce the build costs by in excess
of £30 million and build a squad more than capable of challenging
for European qualification over time. I also brokered key sponsorship
deals with global brands including Hyundai and Errea. I really enjoyed
my time in Azerbaijan – a good country with good people," he added.
Next stop, Sri Lanka and the CEO role at the country’s Rugby Union, a
job he describes as 'a hugely demanding test of my skills and qualities'.
"I often look back on my time in Sri Lanka and wonder how I coped!
The political interference in all walks of life and in particular sport
across Asia was often extreme, however I was afforded some of my
most rewarding experiences to date" he said.
After creating several marketing and commercial assets which truly
introduced the country as a viable force to be reckoned with on the
domestic and international rugby map, Saverimutto spotted a gap in
the market – one which he immediately sought to exploit.
"In just six months I fostered and developed an idea to connect and
relate competitive rugby within second and third tier rugby-playing
nations. That idea was the 'Serendib International Cup', a tri-nations,
cross-regional tournament between Sri Lanka, Poland and Madagascar.
It was, mercifully, a huge success" he said.
It was during a spell as Marketing and Sponsorship Director at AIBA –
world boxing’s governing body based in Switzerland – that Saverimutto
had what many would label his 'road to Damascus' moment of personal
revelation.
"I had a really good job out in Lausanne but I woke up one morning to
the realisation that what I truly wanted to do inside sport was simply
not happening, and that it almost certainly would never happen unless
I acted and did it myself " he said.
"I’m no hero but I knew that my own children, all very keen athletes,
were not being given the coaching, the training and the encouragement
they needed to fulfil their potential in their chosen sports," he added.
And so Saverimutto ended his global wanderings in 2015 and came
back home to launch WESPA which is not so much LIFE Wirral’s bigbrother
as its loving parents.
Based in a world-class facility in Birkenhead, WESPA remains a
hugely ambitious organisation which is focussed on discovering,
developing then delivering the sporting stars of tomorrow. Indeed,
since its inception it has produced many internationals across several
sports including potentially a first home grown talent to make a senior
Olympics.
"To date, our sports specific programmes have helped produce
numerous junior international athletes – both girls and boys – in sports
including Hockey, Handball, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Football,
Athletics and Judo. Like WESPA, LIFE Wirral will take the very best
values that sport can offer.
"In many ways I do see LIFE Wirral as the logical extension of WESPA"
said the former ex-professional and rugby union international. "Those
who are accepted to join the school will be very talented young
sportsmen and sportswomen between the ages of seven and eighteen
years who wish to combine a top-class academic education with
mentoring by elite coaches.
"Whilst one of our primary objectives is to produce international
athletes of the very highest order, we also want to prepare our students
for possible careers within the sports industry – that could be in
coaching, management or administration," he added.
The recently-renovated centre in New Brighton, just a stone’s throw
from the resort’s promenade, features school classrooms, conference
facilities, designated Prep School classrooms, “Optimal Health” student
kitchens and an indoor and outdoor sports training zone.
Each prospective student will undergo a physical performance
assessment, interview and an academic test – accompanied by their
parents/carers - to ascertain their commitment, desire and ambition to
achieve both in sport and in the classroom.
"The students’ day will be individualised to meet their tailored
programme, utilising the skills of some of the region’s best teachers
followed by intensive human performance and sports coaching
designed to nurture and shape their sporting dreams; we will work
hard both their brains and their bodies," said Saverimutto.
In response to what Saverimutto calls a “growing demand “ LIFE Wirral
has also added a full-time Preparatory Specialist Dyslexia section.
Class sizes will be small and our pupils will be taught using the most
up-to-date literacy programmes delivered by expert dyslexic teachers.
This bespoke curriculum and tailored to dyslexic learners, will allow
learners to flourish and will set them up for success.
"Wirral and its state-funded schools are some of the very best in the
country but there are economic shortfalls and budgetary cuts which
means this much needed provision has been badly hit – so we intend
to provide it," he said.
"There are too many holes in our country’s current education system
for one man, one school, to fix but perhaps we can help fill a few gaps
and help young people reach their true potential – in both an academic
and a sporting sense.
"I am very excited about the future for LIFE Wirral. However, I am
level-headed enough to accept that all of those involved – teachers,
coaches and the administration experts – will have to work damned
hard to ensure that this hugely ambitious project is a success," he added.
As he has always said, it is, after all, a simple case of balance and
perspective. www.lifewirral.com
wirrallife.com 13