By Daily Sports on May 8, 2017

Precisely on May 3, 2017 Daily Sports in a human angle report while quoting the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed how young Nigerian players suffer horrifyingly in the merciless hands of very dubious people that pose as football agents, claiming to have all the connections in the world that would enable the unsuspecting young but talented footballers lace their boots in their dream club sides across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

However, this is no news as we have heard of different ways and means by which these victims get trapped. It is still a sad commentary that a country after 57 years of independence is still under the heavy yoke of identity, which has long led to her inability of shaping and redefining the future of her citizenry here and in the Diaspora.

Due to such cluelessness, Nigerians became prey in the hands of these notorious criminals across the globe. In any circle of criminals you must have majority as Nigerians no matter the angle from which you look at it. Nigerians are doomed, hacked down!

Needless to recall the one chance ‘change’ vehicle which long stocked at the middle of the road since May 29, 2015. Nigerians have continued to ask, “Buhari: When will this pain end?” and the question is yet to be answered. Ironically Buhari’s Information Minister, Lai Mohammed is busy dishing out lies to the poverty stricken and furious populace on his principal’s state of health.

Nigerians have been in the dark, while very few government officials led by AGF Abubakar Malami hold the entire country hostage. One section of the country is displaying as if it is superior to others. Nigeria is now more lawless than ever.  Yet, all is well for Lai Mohammed. I digress.

Truth is that all the fallout from the unsuitable polity has rubbed off badly on every other segment. Criminals of all sorts are having a field day in the country. Nigerians are falling into their traps due largely to frustration and desperation. Citizens that are disowned by their supposedly rich country jumps at any ‘offer’ from the discredited and false football agents on the prowl.

Daily, tens, hundreds and even thousands of naturally talented Nigerians are either killed, maimed, dehumanised or even sold perpetually into slavery to foreigners who use them like non-descript, all in the name of contracts. It is seen as a very profitable business with high level and sophisticated syndicates around the globe as vanguards. It increases by the day and Nigeria has such disturbing number daily.

Let me confession that my anger boils to high heavens each time I zero my mind on this callousness and man’s inhumanity to fellow man bad attitude in the name of money making. It is these inflammable backgrounds that Ian Mengel’s heart rending report on the high increase of trafficking of Nigerian players’ rips my heart wide open and it bleeds profusely even as you read this chilling report.

It’s annoying that it is the way and danger the dirty leaders of this most blessed country and their unquenchable thirst for power expose her citizens into the waiting hands of unscrupulous local and international criminals. It is curious but true. You may say, if you like, that wonders shall never end using Nigeria as a case study. Have a swell time as you read vintage Mengel as reported by www.dailysportsng.com:

The President of Germany-based NGO, PLAY! YA, Ian Mengel, on Tuesday said that football players’ trafficking was growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria and, indeed Africa. 

PLAY! YA support grassroots sport and education development and also organises the African Football and Film Festival (AFFF).

Mengel, a former FC Bonn of Germany player, said in Lagos that in spite of the magnitude of the problem, the Nigerian sports authorities and parents were not doing enough to address it.

He spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) against the backdrop of the organisation’s 3rd African Football and Film Festival held in Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos on April 29.

Mengel said that players in Nigeria were swindled by professional clubs and agents into signing invalid endorsements.

“Player trafficking is an offspring of human trafficking though not to the extent and extremes of human trafficking.

“Exploitations are involved where players and their families sell properties to raise funds for their children to play in foreign clubs. It is a business scheme where players don’t enjoy but agents make billions in monetary terms,” he said.

Mengel added that there were laws to checkmate the development but professional clubs and agents don’t adhere.

“Internationally, there are regulations by FIFA on how players should be endorsed. It is prohibited for a player less than 18 years to be endorsed except he is being groomed in the club’s academy.

“These regulations exist but are by-passed by professional clubs and agents to buy young players. Professional clubs and agents compete to endorse minors.”

He said that the players soon realise that they were duped and were stranded in these foreign countries and then begin to encounter difficulties.

“Young African players get to Europe and are left with no choice but to involve themselves in menial jobs.

“They engage in drug trafficking and other vices. Most of these players cannot identify their agents and find it hard to go back to their country,” he said.

Mengel said that with the rampant rate of player trafficking, the government and professional clubs should create more awareness about the inherent dangers.

“The Federal Government should create more awareness about player trafficking to its sportsmen and women, especially football players.

“Some of the players are illiterate; opportunities should be created where they are taught when and how to partake in endorsements.

“Professional clubs should support NGOs that are fighting to curtail player trafficking in the world,” he appealed.

Your guess is as good as mine. Yes, unfortunately Nigeria a giant in the sun that ought to lead other African countries in a spirited fight against this kind of social evil. Injustice has taken a  larger proportion of the land and there is anger, fear, insecurity and what have you everywhere. The nonsense rulers that forced themselves on the citizenry via highly fouled election have failed woefully all rounds.  True, there is nothing much NFF leadership would do to check this dastard act because the young boys who are mostly the target are so desperate to go out there to make dollars not minding the consequences.

The onus lies on countries to legislate laws that would be implemented to the letter in order to squarely checkmate these atrocities Nigeria cum African players face in the hands of these Trans border traffickers.

Mengel’s revelation is a timely clarion call. It must not be swept under the carpet. We all know the high calibre of syndicates involved but it is one monster that can be firmly up rooted with the collective will of African leaders and through strict legislations in their individual countries.

It has not abated all these decades because it has always been handled with kid-gloves. Worse still, some countries have at one time or the other, given it a sharper teeth that adequately aids the heinous crime.

Again, parents must play major and leading roles in all out efforts to nip this long flourishing but blood business on the bud. Parents should insist their children or wards that want to ply this trade professionally mainly abroad are closely monitored and the identities of whoever that claims to be their agent or wants to manage them thoroughly securitised. The NFF leadership must also be put in the whole picture to avoid cheating and other dangerous vices that are associated with players and their agents nowadays.

Even if we go on and on discussing this notorious and rubbish act, fact remains that unless parents and law enforcement agents at our bounders with their unquenchable thirst for money stop the ongoing connivance with these criminal rings. Individual countries and the general public should also rise up to say no to this inhuman act. Then, it would be reduced to its barest minimum.

As you will attest, Daily Sports, would continue to keep a tab on this to unravel the brains behind this disturbing disposition of the mindless among us. Trust, we are always on top of our game as agenda setting, all sports portal. Keep shooting hard as discussion continues on WhatAPP, Twitter, Face book, in serve. Till next Week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 8, 2017

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