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Sports Intelligence Magazine got the news of the death of Sofuluwe on the Nigeria Sports Centre Whatsapp platform. It was ...
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Sports Intelligence Magazine got the news of the death of Sofuluwe on the Nigeria Sports Centre Whatsapp platform. It was ...
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Ogbemudia, an agent of notable Super Eagles players such as Etebo Oghenekaro, Akpeyi Daniel, Ekene Olisemah amongst others, was a guest on a Whatsapp platform NIGERIA SPORTS CENTRE anchored by Akeem Busari.
Hence, he observed that signing a football contract is a serious business which requires the presence of a professional intermediary.
“An average Nigerian footballer cannot read between the lines of their contract” Ogbemudia started. "Players want to sign contracts after knowing what the club wants to offer".
“There should be a professional relationship existing between players and agent". "It is to put the development of the career of players in front”.
“FIFA has an existing regulation on working with an intermediary” he added". “Recently they actually decentralized the process, to ensure that country’s football associations are responsible for monitoring the activities of agents”.
“For now FIFA does not settle issues between agents and players”. "Football Associations are now responsible for settling disputes between agents and players".
Ogbemudia further highlighted that there are extents in which an agent can go while being an intermediary for a footballer.
"Consequently the regulation does not allow the agent to be a coach or the club owner or member of the management”.
“This is to ensure the agent does not influence decision about the player he is managing” he added.
“I have actually observed the attitude of some Nigerian players” he started. “For some of them, they think you are just talking and at such should not be paid for it”.
Ogbemudia was also fair to note that some agents have not been honest too.
“I have seen in some cases where agents convert monies meant for players to themselves”. “That is very unprofessional and really not good for the image of an agent”.
He also noted that wrongful termination of players contract is bad, and players must be protected.
“I remember the case of two of my players in the Nigeria Premier League whose contracts were wrongfully terminated by their clubs”.
“ I won those cases and League Management Company directed the clubs involved to pay compensation to the players”
In fact, "Whenever I win cases at the League Management Company, it makes more players coming to look for me to become their agent”.
“But I always tell them I can’t become their agent; I only protect the interest of players which I was part of their contract negotiation from beginning”.
In conclusion, “if an agent can show what he can do to protect the interest of players, and players are honest enough in their dealings with agent it will give room for a huge number of players having professional agents”.
Eddie Isheri Ogbemudia works with Myron Topclass Sports Outfit, a career management and consultancy firm for sports men and women.