Players and agents are important to one another and should therefore be ethical enough to work together.
However, there seems to be dishonesty amongst some of the agents and players, especially in Uganda.
A concern for unrighteousness was raised by agent Ronald Fred Niwagira Mwine that several players lack integrity when it comes to money after they have seen their deals sail as envisaged.
Mwine noted that he played an intermediate role at one point for Brian Aheebwa, Muhammad Shaban, Juma Balinya, and lately Steven Mukwala, who did not pay him after completing moves to different clubs.
To find out more about the behaviour of players regarding this matter, Football256 engaged agents Kayemba Solomon and Denis Namanya.
“I encountered such challenges when I was beginning this job but I accepted and moved on and then better deals began to come through,” Kayemba started.
“Here in Uganda, players are just getting to learn about the use of agents, so some do not value us and that is how easy it is for them to overlook us when it comes to payments.”
“But we are gradually sensitizing them about the importance of agency and I know we shall eventually overcome all the challenges we are facing right now.”
“At times, even some agents are a problem because some do not have written contracts with the players they are claiming to be theirs.”
“It is tricky in a sense that today we are blaming players but on another day we shall be blaming the agents, so, let there be uprightness amongst all the parties involved,” Kayemba added.
Meanwhile, Namanya was solution-minded in his submission about the matter: “It is a big challenge that we are all facing and I condemn it because this is business and we should be honest to each other.”
“But, this comes back to all of us that are involved in football, we have not sensitized these players about the role of agents.”
The Proper Soccer Academy proprietor also added: “Sensitization of players about the importance of agents should be focused on so much because convincing a team to take a player is not something easy.”
“Then, the agent’s licenses are very important and maybe some people take advantage of the fact that some agents are not licensed.”
“Let’s all get licenses from FUFA and that is our protection from the federation when such problems arise.”
“Another thing that can be done is for us to form an association of agents because these things help a lot other than working alone in isolation.”
Kayemba and Namaya commended some of the honest players they have worked with over the years; Emmanuel Okwi, Khalid Aucho, and Moses Waiswa amongst others.
Under Prosper Sports Agency, Namanya represents Waiswa, Brian Kalumba, Usama Arafat, Gavin Kizito Mugweri, among others on the other hand, Kayemba represents Khalid Aucho, Derrick Nsibambi and Derrick Kakooza.
