In Adidome, where recreational spaces for young people are limited, one young entrepreneur is turning an idea born out of personal experience into a growing business.
Meet Amalo Alfred, popularly known as “Cartoon”, the young founder of Five Star Snooker Center, a recreational spot that has become a place for young people to relax, socialize and enjoy a game of snooker after work or during their free time.
How It Started
According to Alfred, the idea for Five Star Snooker Center came from three main motivations.
First, he was inspired by his own experience at another place where people played snooker. He says he sometimes felt disrespected and looked down upon whenever he went there to play, despite having money to pay for the game.
That experience made him think about creating a place where people could come and enjoy themselves without feeling unwanted or looked down upon.
Secondly, Alfred noticed that many young people in Adidome had very few places to go in the evenings to relax, meet friends and socialize.
“I wanted to create a place where the youth could come in the evening, sit, chat, make friends and have fun,” he explained.
His third motivation was the lack of employment opportunities in the community. Instead of waiting for a job, Alfred decided to create something for himself while also providing a service to others.
For him, it was a way of killing boredom, creating an opportunity for himself and contributing to the community at the same time.
Building the Business Through Leverage
Starting a business is not always easy, especially for young people in smaller communities where access to capital can be a major challenge.
Alfred revealed that he relied on leverage, taking a loan to establish the business with the expectation that the business would generate enough income to repay the debt.
He emphasized that borrowing money to start a business requires careful planning.
“You need to study the environment and identify what people need. Look at the problem, find a solution and make money from solving that problem,” he said.
With support from his mother, Alfred was able to raise the needed capital and establish Five Star Snooker Center.
Today, the business is approaching two years of operation.
Learning From Business Research
Alfred, who has no background in business, says much of his entrepreneurial knowledge also comes from personal research.
He spends time learning about business ideas, customer relations, identifying problems and developing solutions.
Social media, particularly Instagram, has also become one of his sources of business education and inspiration.
His story demonstrates that entrepreneurship does not necessarily begin with having a huge amount of money. Sometimes, it starts with identifying a problem, developing a solution and being willing to take a calculated risk.
No Immediate Plans for School
At 27, Alfred says he currently has no immediate plans to return to school.
His priority is to make the business financially stable enough to support him before considering further education.
He hopes that when the time comes, he will have a reliable source of income that can help finance his education without putting additional pressure on his family.
A Place for the Youth
For young people who visit Five Star Snooker Center, the facility is more than just a place to play a game.
One of the regulars explained that he usually comes after work to relax, have fun and spend time with friends.
He believes the center helps reduce stress and promotes togetherness among young people.
According to him, having recreational spaces like Five Star Snooker Center gives the youth a positive place to spend their leisure time rather than sitting around in less productive environments.
What Next for Five Star?
With the business gradually gaining attention, Alfred has bigger plans for the future, although he prefers to keep some of them private for now.
There is also interest among patrons in introducing other recreational games, including the popular football video game, to complement the snooker experience.
For Alfred, however, the journey is still at the beginning.
From a simple idea inspired by an uncomfortable experience, to a business that is providing entertainment, social interaction and an income opportunity, Five Star Snooker Center is becoming a notable recreational spot for the youth of Adidome.
And Alfred’s message to other young people is simple: identify a problem, find a solution and be willing to take calculated risks to build something of your own.
Five Star Snooker Center — more than a game, it is a space for connection, relaxation and opportunity.
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