Africa must wage war against “false prophets” – Blatter

Joseph Sepp Blatter, President of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has called on the various football associations and clubs in the African continent to join in the crusade against fake football agents.

Sepp Blatter who described the fake agents as “false prophets”, said their existence is one of the serious problems being confronted by the continent because they have over the years succeeded in luring talented young African footballers to Europe with the promise of finding them supposedly lucrative teams and contracts.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Accra, the FIFA President said such moves apart from its negative effects on the development of football in Africa, could also be described as a form of slavery, hence the need to bring an end to it.

“These supposed prophets on reaching Europe, disappear leaving the players to their fate and so there is the need for the various FA's and clubs to take active role in curbing this menace”.

He said African FA's and Clubs must help FIFA to deal with the situation by providing adequate evidence to track the agents down, adding that his outfit would take a serious look at the problem at its next strategic meeting.

Sepp Blatter said one of the solutions to the problem is the provision of financial investments by governments, corporate bodies and Non Government Organisations (NGO) among others in the running of football on the continent.

This, he said would reduce the role and functions of the unregistered agents for Africa players – who are attracted to Europe in search of non-existing opportunities.

The FIFA President added that Africa football needs adequate investments from the corporate world, government and NGO's to create leagues that would offer players decent living to compel them to stay on the continent.

“FIFA on its part has contributed immensely to the development of football in Africa over the last 30 years, through the provision of funds for Goal projects, installation of artificial turfs and the rest is up to such notable organizations to support.

“I think FIFA has solved 50 per cent of the problem, the rest must be done by these bodies and I believe their assistance would help alleviate poverty on the continent.” Sepp Blatter said.

He said such financial investments would also aid in the creation of home grown players who have national identity and ready to die for their respective countries.

According to Sepp Blatter, Clubs such as Sao Paulo of Brazil and FC Porto have excelled on the global stage by winning the Confederations Cup and Champions League respectively due to the massive use of home grown players.