While not many are talking about it, a lot of people have to deal with this kind of a situation on a regular basis. It is just a question of how different teams deal with this issue. Some prefer to keep things under wraps, handle the situation internally without any media fanfare, while others are quick to let the world into the equation. What we cannot run away from is the fact that there is a lot of underhand tactics going on when it comes to player recruitment and acquisition. There are teams, even coaches, who will have conversations with the players before the game and express their interest in their services, on a one-on-one basis, avoiding the risk of doing it over the phone with a potential of being recorded. Before every match, people mingle during field inspection and warm-up, so a lot of things get discussed. After the final whistle, there's also time for the opposition to talk and you best believe that a lot of recruitment happens on match day!
You see it as a friendly conversation between opponents, but coaches and team managers alike take full advantage of that opportunity to plant the seed of interest when least expected. While this happens under everyone's nose, no one notices it until the player changes his attitude and behaviour, not knowing that there's a huge carrot that's been dangled in front of him. This happens all the time! When the mother team deals with the player's new conduct and he demands to be released, they – within their own right – refuse to release the player as he's still contracted, continue to pay his salary even if he's not playing or training regularly, for one reason or another. The player falls for the advances of the prospective new employer and becomes unstable. As much as it weakens the current team, it doesn't help the player not to be involved with the team because of outside influence.
The world football governing body, FIFA, has clear rules on how to go about approaching players and expressing interest. There is a clear protocol, but we can't be fooling ourselves by claiming that we always play by the rules. No team can claim to be innocent of this breach of the Laws of the Game. If it is not through the team, it is through the team manager, head coach or even players. This should not be happening because there's a reason why we have a specific time for player recruitment, which is the two transfer window periods (January and July). Anything that happens outside of these two is in breach of the Laws of the Game. We have witnessed teams breaking the law in their recruitment process by going directly to the player without the decency to inform his club of their interest. We've witnessed teams having a go at each other through press statements or veiled media reports after a deal gone wrong. For every player movement, the two teams have to agree on the terms before the interested party and the player can engage on personal terms. However, at times, it is happening the other way around, which doesn't always end well.
We have people who are playing multiple roles at their clubs and they sometimes recruit players even without the coach's consent. When they feel entitled and think they know better than the technical team, nothing can stop them from recruiting players, but, for as long as people don't stay on their lane and do things correctly, our football will continue to suffer. This affects the game in a negative way because players get destabilized and then the mother team finally gives in and releases the player. Just as the player starts to find his feet at his new club, the coach gets fired or they part ways 'amicably' and then what happens to the player who was head-hunted by the same coach who's leaving now? A new coach comes in and the player isn't in his plans, after leaving a team that still needed him for 'greener pastures'. The player then can't go back to his old club because he's got a contract and both parties have moved on. He will just have to bite his tongue and face the consequences of his decision. Is that fair on the player? In fact, more importantly, is that fair on the Beautiful Game? Certainly not!
We obviously don't have a crystal ball, therefore no one knows what tomorrow holds. However, if we do things correctly and above board, none of this would be happening because things would be done in good faith. Players' careers get destroyed because of the unscrupulous behaviour of certain officials and this impacts the game negatively. Just because these things are not discussed on a regular basis and rather get swept under the carpet, it doesn't mean they are not happening. What can the DStv Premiership and SAFA do to root this out of our football? Well, unfortunately, nothing because no one can prohibit communication between rivals on or off the field. It is just a case of integrity and respecting the Laws that govern our football that can help us. It is just a matter of people respecting themselves enough not to do to others what they wouldn't want done to them. You stop calling players or agents and facilitate moves outside of the prescribed period so that there's a level of transparency and professionalism in the way teams conduct their business.
There are a lot of teams that have engaged in these underhand tactics of destabilizing opposition and even 'beating' everyone to the player's signature. It is against the Laws of the game and should never be happening, especially in this day and age. This doesn't benefit anyone and shouldn't be tolerated at all. It is time we do things by the book and become professional in our conduct. At the end of the day, it isn't just about the one player you're interested in but the impact your modus operandi has on everyone. What is crystal clear is that for as long as this behaviour continues, more and more players and teams are going to suffer and that doesn't help our football in any way.
VeeJay
