Uk-based company, ASQ Training and Development, has launched a mobile App for a ‘Level 3 certificate in football intermediary’ qualification to train and support budding football agents and players.
ASQ Group Managing Director, Samson Adeosun and Executive Director, Adedayo Adeniyi in company of internationally renowned football intermediaries and players’ representatives, John Viola and Phillip McTaggart, made this known at a news conference in Lagos over the weekend.
Adeosun said there were lots of football agents in Nigeria and Africa, but that unfortunately, majority had no proper experience coupled with bad reputation due to unscrupulous activities of a few.
“There are lots of agents in Nigeria, but the fact remains that they lack adequate knowledge of international business as it regards players’ management.
“The Level 3 Certificate in football intermediary program is designed to empower the intermediaries (agents) in the areas of identification, marketing, protection and management of players thereby helping them to get the best out of the players’ careers,” said Adeosun, who is also an English FA licensed intermediary, adding that there are no stringent qualifications before someone is allowed to represent players, but it is important that individual agents acquire knowledge and skills that will make them effective and productive in the players management value chain.
In his own submission, Viola said that ASQ has identified the need for such training and certification to support and encourage budding football agents to get their acts right. Viola who was part of the success careers of players like Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos noted that the training would help those looking to succeed in the complex but lucratively rewarding profession of players’ management.
On his own part, McTaggart advised that intermediaries should embrace the ASQ training for the general interest of football.
Also Read: The Professional Athlete as an Employee Within The Context of The NPFL Rules
“Aside getting the ability to sell quality players, participating in the ASQ development training will avail the agents many advantages including a rich global network. The participants will learn among many other things, the rudiments and dynamics of the global football market thereby reducing the incidences of Nigerian players being rejected abroad.”
Concluding, Adeniyi said that the ASQ App known as ‘ASQ Sports Hub’ is already available on the Android store while the IOS version will be out soon.
“The ‘ASQ Sports Hub’ has a lot to offer already accredited football intermediaries as well as aspiring ones, scouts and players who wish to be scouted too.
“We are here to stay and help correct the blatant anomalies that exists in players’ management in Nigeria which borders on ‘trust issues’ which is key. And we will also collaborate with players who already have agents.”
The program which is created in partnership with ProQual, a UK-based skills and training awarding body recognized globally will offer various courses which will be holding in Nigeria at different times.
