The global football is been dominated by industry players both on and off the field. The excitement from goal mongers or the tactical nous of football managers have relegated the likes role of agents, scouts and other auxiliary staff to the background. The recent influx of Mino Riola and Pinni Zahavi, appeared to have changed the narrative in the side of football scouts and agents. One such uncelebrated figure is Ghana’s Ibrahim Sannie, a scout cum certified player agent.
In a game as multifaceted as Association football, it takes the collective efforts of the team members to raise the image of the game and bridge the gap between producers (players) and consumers(clubs). With unparalleled trademark in brokering major football deals in West Africa, Ibrahim Sannie and his AM-I Sporting Agency has been cruelly blacklisted by the media space. His natural ability to scout footballers from a pool a talent and administrative nous to broker deals for clubs made him a key proponent of the game.
From his tactical prowess as a scout to his legal understanding of the game, Ibrahim Sannie’s record transcended beyond Ghana thanks to his rich and enviable linkages in the game.
A recent invitation by the Ghana Football Association to educate Ghanaian trainers (License A holders) on the management of footballers testified the priceless nature of Sannie’s sporting CV. The versatile scout cum agent, comes with reputation of reading games, identifying which player fits into which type of system or formation and reshaping careers of footballers with different positions.
Like the media engulfed Mino Riola in the European transfer market, Super Agent Ibrahim Sannie has made some career changing transfers led by his huge role in the Ake Loba’s move from Monterey FC to Nashville Soccer Club.
Notable transfers brokered by Ibrahim Sannie include a $7 million transfer of Loba Ake from Monterey to Nashville Soccer Club, Isaac Nuhu’s contact extension at KAS Eupen, Abu Mohammed’s move from DC United FC in the MLS to San Antonio FC and Ajibola Daniel from Seeb FC in the Oman Championship to Al Sahel in the Saudi Arabian topflight.
His partnership with Base Soccer Agency helped shaped and completed the Majeed Ashimeru move to Red Bull Salzburg.
Other moves such as Prosper Donkor from Legon Cities FC to AL Arouba in the Gulf, Joseph Adjei’s move from Wa All Stars FC to Cape Town City FC, Al Arouba FC, OKC Energy FC and Malkiya FC and the transfer of Emmanuel Ocran from Wa All Stars FC to Real Salt Lake in the USL.
Outside the pitch, major deals such Legon Cities FC partnership with GPS tracker and the Mafro jersey deal are all the handy work of Ibrahim Saani.
As the head of scouting for Nashville Soccer Club in Africa, the rise in stature of Ibrahim Sannie certainly deserves some acknowledgement. With major deals awaiting him in the winter and summer transfer windows, he might be just be Africa’s version of Mino Riola doing his work at the blind side of the media.
As a fast emerging football agent and certified scout, it is only safe to say Ghana’s place in the transfer market is in safe hands once Ibrahim Sannie starts brokering huge deals with the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Bayern Munich and the likes. Ibrahim Sannie and AM-I Agency might not be household names for now but they will resonate across the global football parlance.
By: Ismail Saani
Editor, 442gh.com