Players should sign the contract in a language they understand – Olalekan

By Saheed Afolabi

The surge in the number of players playing football and other sport in the grassroots have made so many players eager to play professionally outside the country and some end up signing slave contract with foreign clubs due to their non-diligence in handling contractual situations and not employing a sports agent or intermediary to safeguard them.

CEO of Ola Sport intermediary, Olatunji Olalekan advise grassroots players aiming to play football outside the shores of the country to be careful in signing a professional contract in order not to fall victim to slave contract because it doesn’t pay in the end.

“A player that wants to sign a contract has to be in the language that he/she understands, players should never sign a contract without knowing the full details of it, I can’t get involved in it because it won’t favour either me or the player no matter the sign-on fee or salary involved, it’s something I don’t want anyone to fall into. To avoid this, get a licensed agent to represent you because a licensed agent will safeguard a player from signing a slave contract.”

Olalekan also advises the grassroots players to work hard and shun clubbing.

“They should work hard, pray and rest well after training activities. Grassroots players should shun clubbing and focus on their career path because they have the talent and they will surely excel if they are focused. Football is no fluke, Football is not just a game, it’s life and working hard is key to a player’s growth” he added.

Olalekan noted that he has been in the business for over ten years and has facilitated the transfer of over 25 players to Europe which includes the likes of Udoh Akpan, Tobechukwu Ikpe and Uke Agbo.