Ghanaian football agency, ArthurLegacy Sports has held a seminar for various stakeholders in the domestic game as part of activities towards its Calcio Trade Ball.
The Calcio Trade Ball is an annual event organized by ArthurLegacy Sports that brings together Ghanaian footballers based primarily in Italy with the business and diplomatic community.
The theme for the seminar: "Stop Player Exploitation, Save Football" was held o at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra on Thursday.
The forum is part of the plans of ArthurLegacy Sports to continue sensitising players, managers, and other decision-makers whose actions and in-actions affect the young football player and the ecosystem.
Keynote speakers at the maiden seminar under the flagship programme of Arthur Legacy Sports were Oliver Arthur, Chief Executive and founder of ArthurLegacy Sports, Alessandra Oliva, Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy, Francis Adu Essah, the Head of IT at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), and the Deputy Registrar of the Birth and Death Registry, Seth Bosompem Kissi.
In a well-patronized event, stakeholders were educated on the canker of player exploitation, which, over the years, has affected footballers and ruined many careers.
Mr Arthur who has been in the FIFA intermediary industry for many years noted some red flags footballers should look out for when it comes to dealing with some of his colleagues and third-party managers in the business of football.
According to him, players should be cautious of internet fraudsters who pose as agents and agents who want to extort money before presenting opportunities.
"Paying an agent before a trial abroad [is not the right thing to do]. The role of the agent is to provide service to the player.
"When an agent demands money before service then he is not committed," Arthur noted.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy, Madam Oliva cautioned that players who fake documents are engaging in acts of criminality and hence once denied by an embassy, it could hamper their chances of travelling to some European countries as well.
She encouraged players to present accurate documents that reflect who they are.
"The issue of putting fake documents in [the] visa application is a major concern," she said.
"When fake documents are identified in the application, there's nothing we can do, it's a lost opportunity," she started.
Francis Adu Essah, the Head of IT at the GFA revealed that the football governing body from next season, will register players who have only the National Identification Card (Ghana Card).
He added that, FIFA does not deal with player managers but licensed intermediaries, and advised players to be cautious.
"FIFA does not recognise player managers, but registered intermediaries.
"When it comes to transfers, it's between the player, agent and the club."
"Player managers are not involved in the process," he said.
A Deputy Registrar at the Birth and Deaths Registry, Mr Kissi advised players and stakeholders in football to ensure a safe football ecosystem in Ghana.
The seminar, the first of two events that herald the main ball will be followed by an All-Star football event on Friday, June 17.
Fans are encouraged to grab a ticket for the 2022 All-Star game between a selected Arthur Legacy XI who will play against other high-profile Ghanaian players.
After the game on Friday night, there will be an award ceremony on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel.
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