THERE is one column which l have been finding very misleading and shallow in terms of facts and accuracy.
Omega Sibanda That column is On the Ball by Innocent Kurwa. I have written an article before responding to his articles and now I feel we should put his biased concerns to rest.
For example in his last Tuesday column, he questioned the role of agents. To learn it was written by a so-called soccer expert or analyst personally motivated me to nosily read it several times trying to understand exactly what his problems with player agents were.
To say l’m disappointed is an understatement, l’m disgusted, shocked and surprised why and how someone supposedly a senior sports journalist at this day and age, in the 21st Century is so naïve about the game that he would question the role of player agents is unbelievably sad!
If indeed he doesn’t understand football player agents at this moment in time, he is certainly in the wrong profession. His level of articulation on soccer in Zimbabwe is almost next to zero and that’s not good for journalism.
He is the greatest luminary of misinforming, transmitting and justifying unfounded truth in his weekly column. Again, editor he shouldn’t be allowed to use the word “we” in writing his column, it’s not the paper’s views, it is his, therefore is not a true representative of the views of Southern Eye journalists, let alone readers.
He should write as “l” Innocent Kurwa, and make it clear his unbalanced and untruthful opinions are his and nobody else’s.
Kurwa’s contribution on agents, their influence on the game and condemning the mother body Zifa caught my eye, most notably because as one of the longest-serving licensed agents myself, some of the observations he made were not only completely and interestingly inaccurate, but manifest an element of mediocrity, fallacy, ignorance and an out of touch individual and above all not exactly “mainstream” views that l and most of your readers have ever heard before.
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Just because he has access to a widely read newspapers, Southern Eye, he believes he has the audacity of writing anything from his head, get an infinity of different football opinions and unleash them without facts and correctness to mislead readers.
Then on digging deeper the readers discover that things are just the opposite of what he has written — only to find out this good paper is discredited by one individual who is at war with football fraternity in this country.
Some journalists now, are no more than channels and echoers of the “official truth”. They simply cipher and transmit lies and there is no better example than him.
True, he gives journalism a bad name and true, he mustn’t ever try to resuscitate his flopped carrier through analysing the works of other people without verifying facts.
Kurwa Sir, respect journalism ethics. It really grieves me that so many of our journalists can be so manipulated that they become really what the French describe as functionaires, not journalists.
Some journalists become very defensive when you suggest to them they are anything, but impartial and subjective. The problem with those words is they have lost their dictionary meaning.
Has anyone questioned Kurwa’s credentials as a newspaper sports columnist?
I don’t think so. l’m sure if people have, he wouldn’t even be allowed next to the newsroom let alone have any of his stories published.
For his own information for referees to qualify to do their job, it’s not the annual fitness test or the age only which qualifies them to handle the game(like what your columnist says), most importantly it is the 17 laws of the game.
He needs to research once again before using this paper to misinform and mislead readers. Anyone can coach soccer in Zimbabwe, but there should be a qualified or a certificate holder to be registered to sit on the bench and again Kurwa is misfiring.
A good writer would have researched through Fifa website or contacted Zifa for clarification on the role of player agents if they are interested to know.
Simple journalism ethics require two sides of every story, a thorough research on a story or opinion, to have a balanced and fair piece if writing to leave no one doubting the article.
To try and portray that player agents in this country are not regulated or Zifa is not treating this football entity with the seriousness it deserves is not only insulting, but barbaric.
Should the player agents climb a mountain to shout on top of their voices that they are player agents and are registered with Zifa?
Has he asked Zifa for Zimbabwe player agents names or sought clarification on who is registered and who is not? If not then that shows the character of this columnist, aka sports journalist.
l thought with technology at his disposal Kurwa would write authentic and balanced opinions like other professional journalists, but he is just one of those clueless writers who believe in using his column to score cheap points against his rivals.
For the record, last week Friday, there was a meeting which was organised by Zifa for all player agents registered with Zifa in Harare whose purpose was heavily publicised both in electronic and print media.
Allow me editor to shed light to Kurwa about the role of player agents and to help your readers understand exactly what this job entails.
Broadly speaking, the role of the football agent is to look after every aspect of their clients’ career, to allow the player to concentrate on playing football.
Most of the times clubs won’t let players move and push players out to the reserve team or frozen out as the manager, coach or chairman often treats them quite badly for dealing with players’ agents.
Therefore to prevent soccer players not familiar with laws and language not to be ripped off, soccer players need football agents.
In a case like this, agents’ role is of considerable importance to the player as it is the agent who can revive his career by letting clubs know he is available.
It is certainly a fair point that clubs can take advantage of those players not comfortable with negotiating their terms hence the reason why a need for player agents was created worldwide.
The only reason agents came into the game was because the clubs were fleecing players. Essentially, though, an agent’s key role remains what it has always been.
An agent secures the best possible deal for his player when it comes to contact negotiations. Main roles and duties of a football agent as we all know include carrier management, transfers negotiations, contract negotiations, financial planning, endorsement deals, legal counselling, dispute resolutions, sponsorship and marketing opportunities, public relations, disciplinary issues, welfare advise, etc. Agents just do their job, they are to blame for nothing.
Fifa statutes 2008 clearly state that “Both players and clubs are entitled to engage the services of licensed players’ agents in connection with a transfer or with a view to negotiate or renegotiate an employment contract.
“The players’ agent is entitled to be remunerated for the service he provides. In authorising the activity of player agent from his obligation to comply with the laws applicable in the territory of the association, in particular those relating to job placement.”
This is very clear from Fifa that Kurwa and others need to read more to understand and have knowledge about the modern game of football.
The power of football agents comes from their ability to understand their market and act accordingly.
They aid top players around the globe in earning top figures they deserve and ensuring their focus is firmly kept on playing football and not worrying about endorsement deals or the mechanics of a club contract.
Without agents, soccer would be a mess of dodgy dealings and underhand tactics where fraud would be common place.
We, players’ agents, act and perform our duties under the watchful eye of Fifa through Zifa and all other appropriate authorities.
Without the strict infrastructure they use, players would be extremely vulnerable and so would the market we operate in.
In many occasions, it can be the case that the media will regularly choose to hang the agent out to dry simply because it’s the easier and softer option to choose for any writer who is more anxious to retain his otherwise “cosy” relationship with the coach, manager, chairman or club in question!
Once more thank you very much editor for affording me this space. Your paper really empowers the people of this region with the rich information which you disseminate, and for sure we are your EYE.
We are watching this writer editor with a big EYE and a southern region interest and true we remain INNOCENT.
Thank you.
Omega Sibanda is the Zimbabwe Player Agent Association chairman
