How fake Malaysian agent conned Kenyan footballer

• Davis Agesa is a former striker for Kenyan club Nairobi City Stars
• He was conned by a fake agent from Malaysia
• The 27-year-old had high hopes of securing a lucrative deal

Davis Agesa, a former striker for Kenyan club Nairobi City Stars, was recently conned by a fake football agent in Malaysia.

The 27-year-old had high hopes of securing a lucrative deal with a top-flight Malaysian side. But things did not work out as expected and he found himself stranded in Kuala Lumpur with nothing but an empty promise.

Agesa’s ordeal began when he was introduced to an Ivorian agent through his former coach in Kenya. The agent promised Agesa a lucrative contract with a top-tier Malaysian side, and the two parties agreed on the formalities.

He then received an invitation from the agency, and purchased his own flight ticket to Malaysia. Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Agesa found himself in a bewildering situation.

There was no one to receive him, despite assurances from the agent. Frustrated and left waiting until midnight, he eventually had to find a hotel to stay in for the night with hope that this bad dream would go away.

However, days turned into weeks and months and Agesa was still in Malaysia, with the promised opportunity slipping further away. He tried to contact the Kenyan embassy, but they were unable to offer much assistance.

Nairobi city stars. Photo/Nairobi City Stars

Left without a choice, he contacted the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) which stepped in and helped him to secure a flight back home.

HOW DID THE FAKE ALGENT IN MALAYSIA TRICK AGESA?

The fake football agent from Malaysia in several ways. To begin with, the agent promised Agesa a lucrative contract with a top-flight Malaysian side, without having any concrete offers on the table. This should have raised red flags for Agesa, but he was blinded by the prospect of a big move.

Secondly, the agent asked Agesa to pay for his own flight ticket to Malaysia. This is a common tactic used by fake agents, as it allows them to scam unsuspecting players without having to invest any money themselves.

Finally, the agent disappeared once Agesa arrived in Malaysia and it was the final red flag in the scam.

HOW TO AVOID FAKE FOOTBALL AGENTS

Agesa could have taken a number of steps to avoid being conned by the fake agent. Firstly, he should have done his research on the agent before signing any contracts. There many websites that list legitimate football agents which you should use to confirm the authenticity of any football agent worth their salt.

Nairobi city stars players at a past game. Photo/Nairobi City Stars

The now disillusioned Kenyan footballers should have been wary of the agent’s promise of a lucrative contract without any concrete offers on the table. It is important to remember that there are no shortcuts to success in football. If an agent promises you a big move without putting any work in, it is likely that they are not legitimate.

CONCLUSION

His story is unique because it involves football trickery while many other Kenyans raised a red flag after landing in Malaysia and getting no jobs as promised earlier by agents. Agesa now says that his story is a cautionary tale for all young footballers who dream of playing abroad. Agesa say it is important to be wary of agents who make promises that seem too good to be true.

The Kenyan footballer adds that it is important to conduct a thorough background research and verify the legitimacy of an agent before signing any contracts. His story is a reminder of always being alert and sober-minded when dealing with individuals who promise lucrative deals in the world of sports. Players should always do their research and verify the authenticity of an agent before signing any contracts.