Client: Magico International Sports Management LTD
Industry: Sports Management
Website: magicosports.com
Development Partner: Pixel Earth LTD
Project Duration: Planned 4 months (10 months of refinements and fixes)

Overview

Pixel Earth Limited was tasked with the advanced programming and project management of a comprehensive overhaul of the Magico International Sports Management LTD’s football (soccer) player management software. This software plays a crucial role in managing player profiles, contracts, statistics, and agent/player interactions. The goal was to enhance the system’s capabilities through the introduction of distinct user logins, seamless legacy code integration, migration to a more flexible hosting environment, and the inclusion of advanced media management features.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the project were:

1. Integrate legacy code to enable smooth real-time PDF generation for player contracts and other relevant documentation.
2. Develop new user roles with distinct access levels: ‘Super Admin,’ ‘Magico Player,’ and ‘Magico Agent.’
3. Replace AWS dependency by migrating the system to a more flexible hosting solution that works on any CPANEL installation.
4. Enhance user engagement by integrating custom image galleries and video playback functionalities tailored to the needs of players and agents.

Challenges

1. Legacy Code Integration and Real-Time PDF Generation

The project required integrating legacy code with new technologies, particularly for real-time PDF generation. This was necessary for creating player contracts, transfer agreements, and other essential documents dynamically.

2. User Role Customization and Synchronization

The need to create and synchronize three specific user roles—Super Admin, Magico Player, and Magico Agent—presented a challenge. These roles required different access levels to various features, and the system had to be flexible enough to handle these permissions consistently across both the front-end and back-end.

3. Server Dependency and Hosting Migration

The existing system relied on AWS for hosting, creating scalability and flexibility issues. Our task was to transition the platform to a CPANEL-compatible hosting solution, which could be deployed on various server configurations. This required significant reengineering of the server-side code and the installation of new dependencies.

4. Custom Media Management (Image Gallery & Video Playback)

The integration of an advanced image gallery and video manipulation functionalities was a critical part of the project. Custom image galleries needed to support flexible display layouts, while video content had to be responsive and allow for specific playback behaviors (e.g., autoplay, looping, and user-triggered interactions).

Approach

1. Legacy Code Integration and Real-Time PDF Generation

To address the integration of legacy systems with new features, Pixel Earth Limited worked on adapting existing code to support the real-time generation of PDFs for contracts and reports. The development team focused on:

• Adapting legacy PHP scripts to interact with modern frameworks while maintaining compatibility with the database.
• Creating an efficient process for generating real-time PDFs by implementing libraries that enabled the dynamic creation of player contracts and other documents.
• Ensuring that generated PDFs were visually consistent and included dynamic data from player profiles, contracts, and statistics.

The end result was a seamless integration of legacy code with new PDF capabilities, streamlining Magico International’s documentation workflow.

2. User Role Customization and Synchronization

We designed and implemented a robust role-based access control (RBAC) system to define three specific user roles:

• Super Admin: Full access to all system features, including user management, backend configuration, and advanced reporting.
• Magico Player: Limited access, allowing players to view their own profiles, statistics, contracts, and personal details.
• Magico Agent: Restricted access, allowing agents to manage their assigned players’ profiles, view contracts, and monitor schedules.

We worked on both the front-end (user interface) and back-end (database structure) to ensure that role-based permissions were synchronized across the system. The front-end was updated to reflect the varying levels of access based on the user’s role, while the back-end was modified to support these permissions efficiently.

This ensured that each user could interact with the system according to their responsibilities, enhancing security and user experience.

3. Server Dependency Installation and Hosting Migration

To address the dependency on AWS, we focused on building a flexible hosting solution that could operate on any server with CPANEL. Key tasks involved:

• Installing necessary server modules such as MySQL, PHP, and Apache to ensure compatibility with various hosting environments.
• Modifying the existing code to remove AWS-specific calls, replacing them with a more generalized, cloud-agnostic solution that would function across different hosting platforms.
• Configuring server dependencies for essential features like database connectivity and file storage, ensuring that the platform could scale based on demand.

The move to a CPANEL-compatible environment allowed Magico International to have full control over their hosting, enabling them to choose cost-effective hosting options without being locked into AWS.

4. Custom Image Gallery and Video Playback Integration

To enhance the media experience, Pixel Earth Limited integrated several custom features:

• Custom Image Gallery: We implemented a flexible image gallery that could display images in multiple formats (grid, carousel, etc.), which players and agents could easily manage. The gallery was designed to allow for high customization, including image resizing, captioning, and categorization.
• Video Playback Functionality: We added advanced video manipulation capabilities, including:
  
  • Autoplay and looping options for videos (ideal for highlight reels or match footage).
  • Responsive video player that adjusted to different screen sizes and devices.
  • Custom video behaviors, allowing specific user-triggered interactions, such as pausing, skipping, or adjusting playback speed.

These media enhancements provided a more engaging and interactive experience, allowing both players and agents to manage and view their media content with greater ease.

Results

The redevelopment of the football player management software resulted in several key benefits for Magico International Sports Management LTD:

1. Improved User Management: The implementation of role-based access ensured that each user could access only the data relevant to their position, enhancing both security and usability.

2. Scalable Hosting Environment: Migrating from AWS to a flexible CPANEL-based hosting solution allowed Magico International to lower costs and increase control over their hosting infrastructure.

3. Enhanced Media Capabilities: The custom image gallery and video manipulation features provided a more dynamic and visually rich user experience, improving engagement with the platform.

4. Seamless PDF Generation: The integration of real-time PDF generation made it easier for Magico International to automate and manage player contracts and documentation, reducing manual work and enhancing operational efficiency.

Conclusion

The successful redevelopment of the football player management software for Magico International Sports Management LTD demonstrates Pixel Earth Limited’s technical expertise in advanced programming and project management. By overcoming challenges related to legacy code integration, hosting flexibility, and media management, we delivered a scalable, secure, and user-friendly platform that meets the complex needs of Magico International. This case study exemplifies how innovative solutions can streamline operations, improve user experience, and enable greater flexibility for businesses in the sports management industry.