Brian Masembe, a sports presenter with 104.9 Ssuubi f.m has been shortlisted alongside, Isaac Mwesigwa for the FIFA Player agents’ examinations due on April 4th 2014.
“The application exercise for FIFA Player Agents exams has come to an end with two people being shortlisted”, the Federation statement reads.
The two successful individuals passed through from the 6 who had applied. They will have to pay UgX 300,000/= each before attending the examinations which will be held at FUFA house and conducted by technical director Asuman Lubowa.
“The other four applicants were not considered basing on Article 6.1 and 6.2 of the FIFA Player Agents Regulations”, the statement adds. Masembe has a vast knowledge of grass root football with a particular and keen interest in the famous Buganda Masaza cup and the Copa Coca Cola school’s championships. He also follows the domestic football leagues at all levels and he follows the various European football leagues.
Currently Uganda has six FIFA player agents and there are Tushar Ruparellia, Livingstone Kyobe Livingstone, Nasser Mulindwa , Tony Awori, Alintuma Nsambu and David Tigawalana.
The exams will have 15 questions related to football regulations and 5 concerning FUFA.
Who is a FIFA Players’ agent?
A football player’s agent is not just somebody who, for a fee, introduces players to clubs trying to negotiate or renegotiate an employment contract or who introduces two clubs to one another with a view to concluding a transfer.
The agent’s job is to represent the interests of a football player. A football agent negotiates contracts with teams, seeks out marketing and sponsorship opportunities, takes out insurance, and handles the day-to-day business of football players’ careers. For that the football agent earns a commission as a percentage of the contracted fee.
He is (can be) much more: football player’s agents these days take care of most matters regarding a player’s well-being, for instance: finding the player (and his family) a place to live, taking care of his legal and tax matters, help with getting the required medical assistance that is needed in case of injury.
How to become a FIFA players’ agent:
Until 2001, agents were licensed directly by football’s worldwide governing body – FIFA. Since then, licenses have been issued by the respective association of the applicant’s country of nationality.
To apply for a license, each person must send his application, together with all the required data, and pay an enrollment fee. Candidates must have an impeccable reputation (no criminal sentence for financial or violent crime) and can under no circumstance, as the FIFA Player’s Agents Regulations state, hold a position as an official, employee, etc. at FIFA, a confederation, an association, a league, a club or any organisation connected with such organisations and entities.
If such an application satisfies the required (and mentioned) criteria, the association shall invite the applicant to take a written examination. The associations may hold examinations twice a year; the exact dates shall be determined by FIFA. The examination is organized by the association and held under the general supervision of FIFA. The exam is made as a multiple-choice test. In it, the applicant must show that he has the required knowledge on important subjects, such as:
a) Knowledge of the current applicable football regulations, especially in connection with transfers (internationally and locally);
b) Knowledge of civil law (basic principles of personal rights) and the law of obligations (contract law)
If a candidate passes (receives enough points – criteria set by FIFA), he is just one step away from obtaining a license. The last step is acquiring professional liability insurance made out in his own name with a reputable insurance company. The insurance must be there to adequately cover any risks that may arise from the players’ agent’s activity. If that is not possible, a guarantee from a Swiss bank for a minimum amount of CHF 100,000 is another, yet not so popular option.
Once all this is settled, the agent signs the Code of Professional Conduct and is finally issued a license that allows him to conduct his work in organized football on a worldwide basis. Thereafter, he may use the term “Players’ agent licensed by the football association of [add country]” by his name.
World’s Famous football Agents:
Beside Raiola, who is of Italian origin living in the Netherlands and also represents Mario Balotelli, probably the most famous agent at the moment is Jorge Mendes, who (amongst others) represents Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho. The most agents, by far, come from Italy. Italians have 949 registered football player’s agents.
