Vanguard Allure

Top Menu

  • Vanguard

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
  • Vanguard

logo

Vanguard Allure

  • Home
  • Allure Magazine
    • Allure Investigates: Where Are They Now?

      April 18, 2021
      0
    • THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PRINCE PHILIP THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

      April 11, 2021
      0
    • Uche Elendu: Starting Afresh

      April 11, 2021
      0
    • Chris E. Kwakpovwe: Manna on Easter Morning

      April 4, 2021
      0
    • social media influencers

      Rise Of Social Media Influencers

      March 29, 2021
      0
    • Azeez Oladapo Yusuf

      Allure Cover: Azeez Oladapo Yusuf - A Proud Nigerian Export

      March 21, 2021
      0
    • VALENTINA UTOH: Luxuriously 40tified

      March 14, 2021
      0
    • Kemi And Dolapo Shabi: #AFreeUnion Winners

      March 7, 2021
      0
    • Fireboy: The Artiste To Beat

      February 28, 2021
      0
    • Features
    • Magazine
    • Profiles
  • Allure TV
  • Celebration
    • Fashion & Style
    • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
  • Wellbeing
    • Allure Woman
    • Healthy Living
    • Beauty
  • Happiness
    • Food
    • Shopping
    • Travel
    • Relationships
    • Career
  • News
    • 'She did not commit suicide' - Nelli Tembe's father says as she ...

      April 16, 2021
      0
    • Nollywood Movie: Touchline is a domestic violence story with entertaining twists and ...

      April 15, 2021
      0
    • Dubai’s Education Tourism Initiative to Boost Growth Opportunities for Nigerian Students

      April 14, 2021
      0
    • Annie Idibia consoles Ruth Kadiri for not being recognized by Mo Abudu, ...

      April 13, 2021
      0
    • Toyin Abraham dedicates new awards to 4 most important people in her ...

      April 13, 2021
      0
    • Actor Ernest Asuzu buried in his hometown, Arondizuogu, Imo State (Photos)

      April 13, 2021
      0
    • Agoha's Eledumare video continues to soar

      April 11, 2021
      0
    • Sotayo's Clean Stitches storms Abuja

      April 11, 2021
      0
    • White House releases new official portraits of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

      April 10, 2021
      0
  • Kehinde Bankole eulogises colleague, Funke Akindele; describes her as an enigma

  • Federal Government prohibits Pastor Adeboye’s helicopter from flying over expired papers

  • Vaness Bryant celebrates 20th Wedding Anniversary with Late Husband Kobe Bryant

  • Olamide Set to Drop New Album ‘UY Scuti’

  • ‘My happiest moment in life was when I got out of my last relationship’ – BBNaija’s Ike

Allure MagazineFeatures
Home›Allure Magazine›Drew Uyi: Changing Athletes’ Narratives

Drew Uyi: Changing Athletes’ Narratives

November 29,2020
Share:

Words By – Jemi  Ekunkunbor

He is an FA Licensed Football Agent, Brand Strategist and Public Relations expert. He has also at some point, dug his hands in the African music and entertainment pies.

Born Ogbomoide Uyighosa Omonuwa  in Birmingham UK, he has since branded himself Drew Uyi. Drew had his early education in Benin before moving to Switzerland and later Germany, where he concluded High School. A Sports and Events Management graduate from the London Metropolitan University, London, he also holds a Post certification in Marketing from the London University of the ART.

In his foray into the entertainment industry, he has managed the AY Comedian Brand internationally, and acted as a Media/ Brand Consultant to One Africa Music Fest, New York, London and Dubai. Currently heavily into sports- his first love and passion, he now manages athletes even as he seeks to change their narratives and fortunes.

There are many things to do around the game of football. Why did you choose to be an FA licensed football agent?

I chose to be a football agent because it puts me in a better position to represent  African athletes and to perform my duties. Apart from being a football agent, I have a flair for athlete branding, so I give them more value. Also, it is required for African agents to represent African players because they understand the culture and the mentality more than other people. 

In the past, local stars rusted with their talents because they didn’t have or know about agents who could arrange for them to play overseas. What was it like then?

You are quite right. We have abundant talents in Africa and many  didn’t have the right agents to help them out.  But things have changed over time because of the advent of the internet and social media. The world is now a global village, so you can reach out to agents that can help you further your career. But above all, I think we should have a good league in Nigeria and Africa. All the players cannot go overseas, people should play locally and on a high level as well. We should develop our own league instead of thinking of traveling overseas.

There is this suspicion that players have towards agents who they feel exploit them. How are you changing this narrative?

I do not blame the players because for a long time, there are cow boy  agents and travel agents who claim they are football agents but are not. That’s why  I’m here trying to change the narrative by adding value. My unique selling point is athlete branding; adding value to athletes for them to increase their market value.  For me, my purpose is more of giving back instead of exploiting them.

Why is it that in spite of the trust African players put in their agents, they never get contracts commensurate with their talents  and what can be done to remedy the situation?

You are right. A lot of agents don’t give value. You cannot give what you don’t have. When you don’t have capacity, you settle for less. I’ve been managing talents for over 20 years now and I see the red flags. Nobody should settle for less but a lot of agents because they don’t really have much, anything that is thrown at them, they just grab it.

When you take a local player to a foreign country, how do you ensure he settles well into the country especially where the language and culture is different?

There are two times when you can take a player outside the country; when they are young so you can place them in an academy, and the second time is when they are established as professional players in a local league.  We can then take them out as professional players.

As amateurs, we can place them with a family and they adapt into the system and if it’s a non English speaking country, they have to learn the language. As they say, when you are in Rome, you behave like the Romans and adapt to the culture there in order for life to be easy for them.

Why do agents meddle in the selection of  players in national teams?

I’m not sure about that but I guess it’s for profiling. If you decide to play for the national team, it should come naturally. This is about work, work and work and then hope you’d get some nice results.

Apart from earnings from playing the game, how can African players be packaged in such a way that they can earn from endorsements?

There are many ways African athletes can earn money apart from the money they make from playing the game. They can make ten times their salary if they are managed  well. That is really my area of strength: Athlete branding!

If it’s done properly, they can make so much. It starts  with building your profile, your brand and your image. You can then have an endorsement, you can then have partnership. If you have a good brand, you can have brand equity to show them from  the company. It’s very important  that athletes brand themselves. When they do, the rest is history but I can assure you that, if an athlete is branded properly, he can make ten times what he makes as salary.  

What countries are the favourite destinations for players?

England! Most players would prefer to play in England. It has the biggest league in the world and they pay better. It’s a league where you can showcase yourself and everybody would see you.  Every player wants to play at the highest level- Spain, Italy and Germany.

What do you look out for in players that you scout for?

I look out for passion, dedication and hard work.

What can be done to help star players stay back home to help grow the local leagues?

A lot can be done to help the local league. It’s all about investment. Whatever you invest in the league would grow. I expect the government and private sector to invest then players would be encouraged to stay back. That’s the way forward instead of everybody thinking of traveling abroad.

Does your work take you round the world or how do you operate?

My work requires me to travel quite a lot because it’s a face-to-face business. Sometimes, you have to be on ground to assess the player and the facility.

What is your life around football like?

It’s very interesting and demanding but I cannot complain because it’s part of the career that I have chosen so I have to give it my best.

Which is your favourite league and favourite club?

I don’t have a favourite football club or league. For me, I can work with any of them. I like all of them. I don’t want to be biased but I like the way the English run their business. Apart from the passion, it’s a proper business. If you have a league and there is so much passion you are not making money, it doesn’t make sense.

What crazy thing have you done for football?

The craziest thing I’ve done is travelling to three countries in one day to sign agreement to make sure I achieve what my clients want. Crazy traveling is what I do for football.

As an image maker for footballers, how do you like to present yourself?

As a football agent and brand strategist, I like to present myself as someone that educates, empowers African athletes, give them eyes to see and make them know that their brand can be bankable during their career and after sports.

What won’t you wear in the name of fashion?

I’m quite flexible with fashion. The only thing I won’t wear is something extremely expensive. I’d rather give the money to charity.

Christmas is around the corner, how do you like to spend it and where?

I’d like to spend it with my family in London as I usually do especially in this COVID era, it would be a quiet one.

Previous Article

Fola Folagbade’s Worital Publishing Company Celebrates One-Year ...

Next Article

AY Comedian and wife mark 12th wedding ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Allure MagazineEntertainment

    Daddy Showkey Shuts Down Industry Nite

    May 27, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineNews

    ”You are not going to see a music video from me where you have women shaking whatever…” Rapper Lynxx says

    September 27, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineEntertainmentNews

    Hollywood icon, Debbie Reynolds dies one day after daughter, Carrie Fisher passed on

    December 29, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineNews

    Comedian Bovi frowns at viral pre-wedding photos of a female soldier and her fiance

    November 1, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineBeauty

    5 Hair Must-Have

    August 15, 2016
    By allure1
  • Allure MagazineEntertainment

    Tanzanian rapper, Diamond Platinumz welcomes son

    December 6, 2016
    By allure1
0

  • EntertainmentEvents

    How your favorite celebrity dressed to sugar Rush Abuja premiere

  • Fathers Day: Bryan Okwara pens note to his new born son
    EntertainmentNews

    Fathers Day: Bryan Okwara pens note to his new born son

  • EntertainmentNews

    Nollywood actresses rally support for Sonia Morales and IK Ogbonna after marriage crash


  • 5329
    Followers
  • 12744
    Likes

Timeline

  • April 19, 2021

    Kehinde Bankole eulogises colleague, Funke Akindele; describes her as an enigma

  • April 19, 2021

    Federal Government prohibits Pastor Adeboye’s helicopter from flying over expired papers

  • April 19, 2021

    Vaness Bryant celebrates 20th Wedding Anniversary with Late Husband Kobe Bryant

  • April 19, 2021

    Olamide Set to Drop New Album ‘UY Scuti’

  • April 19, 2021

    ‘My happiest moment in life was when I got out of my last relationship’ – BBNaija’s Ike

Categories

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Kehinde Bankole eulogises colleague, Funke Akindele; describes her as an enigma

    By Temitope
    April 19, 2021
  • Federal Government prohibits Pastor Adeboye’s helicopter from flying over expired papers

    By Dami
    April 19, 2021
  • Vaness Bryant celebrates 20th Wedding Anniversary with Late Husband Kobe Bryant

    By Dami
    April 19, 2021
  • Olamide Set to Drop New Album ‘UY Scuti’

    By Dami
    April 19, 2021
  • Chioma Jesus, Sammie Okposo, Midnight Crew set for #THUGGLA2018

    By RITA
    April 24, 2018
  • American rapper, Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer prize for 2017 ‘Damn’ album

    By RITA
    April 17, 2018
  • Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti drops new album titled ‘Black Times’ 

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018
  • Actor, Yul Edochie declares intention to run for presidency

    By RITA
    April 23, 2018

Entertainment

  • April 19, 2021

    Kehinde Bankole eulogises colleague, Funke Akindele; describes her as an enigma

  • April 19, 2021

    Olamide Set to Drop New Album ‘UY Scuti’

  • April 19, 2021

    ‘My happiest moment in life was when I got out of my last relationship’ – BBNaija’s Ike

  • April 19, 2021

    Deyemi Okanlawon celebrates birthday with new photos

  • April 17, 2021

    CDQ issues official statement following detention by NDLEA for allegedly possessing Cannabis

Follow us