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Raymond Jaravaza
THE local football fraternity only has six Fifa registered agents in an industry where almost all professional players are represented by individuals claiming to be managers or representatives in transfer deals, raising concerns of fake “player agents” mushrooming in the game.
According to Fifa, only six individuals are licensed to conduct football agent services in Zimbabwe, governed by the Fifa Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) that came into effect on 1 October 2023.
Five satisfied the legacy path because they previously practiced as football agents, and one earned the licence through the exam path in September 2023.
The six are Denford Mutashu, George Deda, Garikayi Gilbert Sengwe, Lindela Tshuma, Gibson Mahachi and Adonis Ndaimana Sithole.
In a statement Zifa said “So dozens of football “agents” have been operating in the country illegally all along as just six are allowed to do so in terms of the Fifa Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) that came into effect on 1 October 2023. The six are the only football agents allowed to operate in Zimbabwe”.
With the transfer window period for the 2024 Premiership season open, players’ movement is now at its peak with clubs forced to deal with individuals purporting to be agents or representatives of footballers in signing new deals, extending existing contracts or negotiating better terms before the start of the new season at the end of February.
The disclosure by Fifa that only a handful of agents are duly registered with the world football motherbody raises concerns that the rest of the so called “player agents” in the country are operating illegally and reaping profits where they did not sow.
At the end of last year, Fifa brought in new regulations to improve the standards of football agents.
The changes were aimed at tackling serious issues such as corruption, player trafficking and other illegal activities, but the new regulations have the effect of changing the football ecosystem as a whole.
Under the Fifa Football Agent Regulations (FFAR), agents’ commission fees are capped and fees for services to players must come from the player they represent, not the clubs involved.
The agent will take a cut (usually 5%) from a player’s wages.
No deduction should be taken from youth players’ wages
The new rules shift agents’ incentives away from trying to get players to move clubs often or secure high transfer fees and towards trying to secure high wages for their clients.
Previously, agents could earn huge paydays whenever a player moved club, which could incentivise some agents to push players to change clubs more often, even if this is against the player’s interests, but with agents’ commissions now tied to players’ pay cheques, there is an incentive to get players to sign for higher salaries.
Fifa says that “The FFAR ensure that agents no longer have extreme financial incentives to accelerate transfer movement and by linking the service fee of an agent to the salary of a client, the FFAR ensure that the interests of an agent and their client are fully aligned.”
This could push up salaries, especially for young players, while putting some downward pressure on the ever-rising transfer fees.
Endorsements and marketing deals are outside Fifa’s remit, so with agents facing a cap on their commission, they could look to make up for that shortfall by searching for more commercial opportunities for their clients.
Online Reporter