Football Executive and businessman Mr. Olatunji Okuku, has opened up on his first experience taking a grassroot player to Europe.
In a tweet via his verified Twitter handle, Mr. Okuku expressed sadness over unfaithfulness of some football agents.
According to Mr. Okuku, he took his first ever grassroot player to Switzerland in 2017. And the agreement with the agent with them is for his player to try-out at Grasshopper FC.
But unfortunately for them, upon arrival to Switzerland, the agent reversed and took them to SC Kriens.
At that time, SC Kriens is still in amateur and can not sign a Non-EU player. Meanwhile, Grasshopper FC, is threatened with administration and can not afford to sign a player too. So, he was left with nothing but going Cap-in-hand.
Mr. Olatunji Okuku Tells His Story:
“A MUST READ! In 2017 I took my first player to Europe in what turned out to be one of the mixed experiences I ever had in football.
“We had been deceived by an agent who had promised to take Michael on trial at Grasshopper FC. A very famous football club in Switzerland.
“And this is why I tell every aspiring players or club owners to never trust any agent. That tells you to just get into Europe by any means and will take you on trial. 90% of time you’ll be disappointed or left on the street.
“They had used a private company invitation to get the visa. Only to arrive in Switzerland to be taken to Sc Kriens .
https://twitter.com/Okukubabaoru/status/1646063400659701760?s=19
“The second slide was a photo of me at SC Kriens training ground. They play in promotion league that year. So they couldn’t register a Non EU player and no salaries.
“But then luckily I met the old man in this photo. His name is Eric Vogel, one of the most respected football persons in Switzerland.
“He was 82 years old at that time. We took this photo at his home. Then he said you’re so young, BUT WHY FOOTBALL?
“I said I love football too much. He told me many things that helped shape Tripple 44 till today.
Mr. Eric Vogel Told Us To Be Careful Of Agents:
“And he told me to be mindful of football agents as 90% of them cannot be trusted. When we found out Michael can never sign for Sc Kriens. and Grasshoppers was up for sale and passing through some hard times financially that year.
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“It became clear we had to find another solution, michael then had to take a bus to Poland where he was for about 5 months for a Resident permit.
Michael Attended Many Trials, But Wasn’t Successful:
“Attended many trials at many clubs in Europe, played for Racing Colombes 92 in the French lower division. In 2019, Michael received a message on instagram from a modeling company in Paris. As he was a very tall handsome guy about 6.2ft. He turned it down, he didn’t tell me until he arrived Nigeria.
“I said dude, you could have stayed and just live your life man. He said I owe you, you didn’t take me to Europe to model. And I told him you owe me nothing man. I was shocked.
“We tried a couple of times to get him trials in Europe again but didn’t work. But then michael wanted to continue to do football but this time he wanted to be a coach.
“The third slide was Michael at NIS doing his coaching certification. Boy got a distinction, and today, michael is the head coach of Tripple 44 football academy. And even though people thought I was crazy making a boy with no prior experience in coaching a head coach. Then I told them, how is he supposed to have an experience if he hasn’t experienced it ?
“Ok I’ll give him a chance to gather the experience here. He’s still
Mastering his craft , but he will be one of the coaches for the future.
“The story long… But I hope it helps someone out there today.”
