EXCLUSIVE : How Nigeria, Switzerland football agents scammed me – Udemgba

A Nigerian, Prince Emeka Udemgba has lamented how football agents in Nigeria and Switzerland swindled him of hard earned money in the name of having transfer deals for his players, reports www.totorinews.com exclusively.

 Udemgba, Director of Premeksports in Valencia Spain, said that he was keen to help some players under his football management to change clubs for better fortunes, but sadly, it turned that he fell into wrong hands of fake football agents roaming everywhere in the world, seeking to inflict financial woes on their victims.

He revealed further that one of his staff, William Aniyi introduced him to one Francis Abiodun Abidemi, who claims to be a football agent with contacts in Uzbekistan, but the transfer deals did not materialise for his three players.

In a similar Incident, Steffen Bol from Switzerland told him about football transfer deals in Uganda for his players, which did not see the light of the day.

“I have been taught some bitter lessons in football transfer business and I have resolved never to fall victim again. My ordeal began when I was introduced to one Francis Abiodun Abidemi by the man working in my company, William Aniyi about Uzbekistan football deals,” Emeka told www.totorinews.com. 

“He ( Francis Abidemi) said he  has Uzbekistan deal directly with a club in the country. He did not tell me the club’s name.
He said that he the needed three players and I gave him $1500dollars each, which I sent money via William and the last 750k was paid to his own account. 

“The money was sent to process the visa requirements and other vital travelling documents for the players.

“After two weeks the visa came out and I bought the ticket that cost me ₦1m  each for the players. We did all the requirements at the airport via Turkish Airlines.

“But the players were not allowed to cross the immigration post because their visas was pined as in blocked.

“When they were refused, I was called by the Uzbekistan immigration to produce the man who gave the invitation, but he refused to come and told me that Francis Abiodun Abidemi did not pay for the visa fees, the players were denied entrance and were deported back to Nigeria and since then it has been stories.

“If I ask him about my money, he will say that I should ask William, I am still confused, my ₦6millon just wasted like that. The very painful thing is that Abidemi claimed to be a Pastor.

“Aside from him, another fake football agent scammed. He is a European by name Steffen Bol from Switzerland. He said he has African deals from Uganda.

“I paid N400k and later flight ticket of my player to Uganda. The player went to Uganda and he was told to go back the next day. He said the deal was now in Sudan which I paid for the visa 3 times and nothing came out of it.

I spent  $4,500 and it went down the drain like that. It was very traumatic experience for me,” he said