Soccer agents want to serve with dignity

THE recently revived Zimbabwe Soccer Agents Association has vowed to serve the game with distinction and add value to the player and game.

Lindela Tshuma who is the body’s secretary-general said they had last month upon confirmation by Fifa following last year’s examination window decided to start a group.

He said this was a deliberate move to ensure there was accountability and standards setting.

He said this is important in that the local agents who are glistered with the international body will act within the confines of agreed standards.

“There were examinations last year.

Those like myself, George Deda, Gibson Mahachi, Denford Mutashu and Gilbert Sengwe were retained while a new member who wrote the examination and passed came on board. We have Addington Sithole coming on board and is actually our treasurer.

“We came together to create a forum where we could talk and find common ground about good service delivery on how players can benefit. As they benefit their former clubs will not be left out.

“We want fair standards in the way we work as agents and add value collectively as a group.

“Clubs have to know we exist and players can call on our services now that the Zifa Normalisation Committee has announced to the public that we exist and we are compliant with Fifa and their expectations,” said Tshuma.

He said unregistered intermediaries were taking clubs and players for a ride and short-changing the game.

“There is no one among us because we subscribe to a Fifa code of conduct and ethics who can get a player to sign contracts with two clubs within the same transfer window.

“It is not good for the game. So we are saying we are at the players’ disposal and we will do our best to get them good deals be it nationally or outside the country,” said Tshuma.

Mahachi has been the leading agent working with Mike Makaab who is based in South Africa to market and export several Zimbabwean players while Deda has done deals in Tanzania and the Arab world with great success.