Muguyo speaks on player failure

Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
FORMER Kaizer Chiefs, Eagles and Zimbabwe Saints star Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo believes lack of support systems in the local game are to blame for players failing to make an impact abroad and making meaningful investments from their signing-on fees. Simba Sithole of Dynamos leads a list of players who appear to have moved outside the country too soon. He already has flopped twice in South Africa in the last three years.

Others like Alois Ngwerume formerly with Highdon Raylton and Evans Gwekwerere of Black Mambas collapsed under a weight of expectation following rushed moves to South Africa. Another big transfer was that of Knowledge Musona from South Africa to Germany’s Bundesliga and Joseph Ngwenya from the US Major League Soccer to the elite division in Germany.

Speaking while watching a trial match pitting Tsholotsho Pirates and new Premiership boys Plumtree Chiefs, Muguyo called on agents to engage a number of professionals to back their activities. He said an agent could not be a Jack of all trades.

His sentiments were echoed by Omega Sibanda the chairman of the Zimbabwe player agents. Sibanda said his Links International had a number of professionals drawn from a variety of fields that he is working with in order to ensure his clients get the best service.

He said another player agent licensed by Zifa, Gibson Mahachi who owns Socotec was also working with a number of professionals giving the best possible advice to players.

Mahachi’s agency, Sibanda said was run like a company. The Harare man has handled a number of high profile players and several Warriors stars past and present have been in his books.

Muguyo said he was disappointed with the number of players failing trials or who were not making an impact once signed by foreign clubs.
The former Kaizer Chiefs stalwart said agents should not be pushed by the urge to make more money but to make real change to a footballer’s life while he still plays and beyond.

“Today it’s like an agent wants a player to move without looking at a number of things. Is the player going to the right club, has enough research been done on the boy’s destination? Is the weather or climate ideal?

“There are a number of factors that should be looked at before a player goes for trials as some moves result in the player losing out as a footballer. Someone with a technical bias should be working with the agent so that the player goes where he will not disappoint. Because if he goes and does not make the grade, more often his confidence is affected,” said Muguyo.

The man who played alongside Kaizer Chiefs’ founder Kaizer Motaung, the late Ace Ntsoelongoe and Teenage Dladla at the Phefeni Glamour Boys in the 1970s, said people good at investments, accounts, marketers, law and medical practitioners should be in the employ of the agent.

“All these people can come up with advice on a number of matters to help the agency which should be run like a company. These professionals will be a support structure in a number of ways to the players.

“We have seen players blowing all they would have made from the game. The signing-on fees can through good advice, help the player in the future.

“My challenge is to see agents really making an impact beyond their cuts from deals and helping players become better people in society. Many tend to live difficult lives because of a lack of proper guidance with relations ending as soon as the agent has secured a move and his cut,” said Muguyo, a living soccer legend whose name is held in high esteem in South African and Kaizer Chiefs soccer circles.
Sibanda said Muguyo was right to say agents should have other professionals working with them.

“What Muguyo is saying is something brilliant. I run my Links International as a company and I have a number of professionals like lawyers working with me. If I want to sign up a player or there is a deal I have technical people who advise what type of a player would be ideal for a particular club.

“But resources are hindering us from working with too many professionals as they expect to be paid for their services. When a move has been completed I pay the people I am working with,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda believes that the approach is the way to go for the game.
So many players who made money from signing-on fees or earnings from bonuses, have died as paupers or are a sorry sight in the townships.

Both Muguyo and Sibanda believe that can be avoided if there is an integrated approach to dealings between players and their representatives.