Former Chelsea star Didier Drogba has issued a warning to African players, advising them to be wary of fraudulent agents who make false promises of success and wealth.
Drogba has partnered with FIFPRO (the global football players union) and the International Labour Organisation, along with his foundation, to raise awareness about the risks involved.
Through an animated video campaign, the renowned striker has urged younger footballers to be cautious and take preventive measures to protect themselves from potential fraud and exploitation.
In comparing footballers to modern-day gladiators, the article suggests that agents function as their “masters” in the background, solely focused on enriching themselves. As stated by ESPN, Drogba said:
“Please, I need you to hear this. Be very careful who you trust. Never trust the person who wants your money. Your best agent is not the guy you may trust, the best agent you can have is your performance.”
“This never lies. So the more you perform, the more clubs are coming to watch you play. What I see is a lot of kids looking for an agent to find me a club. That’s not how it works. It’s the performance that gets the attention of the clubs and good agents.”
Although slavery is no longer prevalent in society, the role of agents in football is portrayed as a contemporary form of enslavement—more refined and civilized, yet still forceful and occasionally malicious.
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Becoming a football agent has become a fast-track route to amassing immense wealth, often by taking advantage of naive or desperate individuals seeking to achieve something significant in their lives.
While acknowledging the agents who genuinely prioritize their client’s interests, the article highlights the growing number of unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of footballers.
According to a recent survey conducted by FIFPRO, which involved 263 players from seven African countries, over 70% of the respondents reported receiving unsolicited contact from people offering to facilitate club transfers.
Many fake agents approached players with enticing prospects such as trials (43%) or club contracts (39%). However, the actual outcomes were far from glamorous.
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Among those targeted by fake agents, 56% did not receive the promised trials, and 44% failed to secure the expected contracts. Young players were particularly vulnerable in these situations.
In response, Drogba cautioned teenagers to focus more on honing their skills rather than desperately seeking out “brokers” to advance their careers.
