Carving a niche: Matthew Rusike speaks on his switch to player management
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Matthew Rusike has opened up about his transition into player management, where he has been soaring high.
The former PSL striker Matthew Rusike retired in December 2019 following a brief spell at Stabæk Fotball in Norway.
He retired at the age of 29 after a decade-long career that also saw him play for the University of Pretoria, Jomo Cosmos, and Cape Town City FC.
He spent some time in the Swedish elite league and had a short stint in Portugal and Tunisia. At the moment, Rusike is carving a niche as an agent. The 33-year-old Zimbabwean is a partner at BHM Sports Management based in Sweden and Dubai.
He manages more than 36 players, including top Zimbabwe and Luton Town midfielder Marvellous Nakamaba, Carl Starfelt of Celta Vigo in La Liga, and Isak Hien of Atalanta in the Italian Serie A.
In 2022, he brokered Zambian midfielder Emmanuel Banda’s transfer from Swedish side Djurgardens to HNK Rijeka in Croatia.
He also made possible Carl Starfelt’s transfer from Celtic to Celta Vigo, amongst other top transfers in Europe and the MLS.
That same year, he made a giant leap in his career after brokering Rafinha’s transfer from PSG to Qatar’s Al Arabi FC.
Rafinha’s transfer stands out as one of the major transfers that the former Zimbabwean international has facilitated under the firm.
FORMER STRIKER RUSIKE EXPLAINS HIS TRANSITION FROM PLAYING TO PLAYER MANAGEMENT
“When I finished football, I never wanted to remain in football. It might sound strange, but it was never an interest of mine [to be a player agent],” Rusike told FARPost.
“The business side of football is what pulled me back. Personally, I didn’t have an agent after the age of 22 from the time I was at Kaizer Chiefs.
“I wanted to be in total control of the outcome of my career. I was interested in the business side of things.
“When I decided to quit playing, it was a bit premature, but I wasn’t interested in chasing a contract to certain countries just to remain a professional footballer.
“Football is a finite career; you put in 15 years of your life, and then one day, it stops. At the age of 27, I was already looking at something new because I could play up to 33, after which I need a plan for the rest of my life.”
HOW HE GOT HIS FIRST DEAL AS A PLAYER AGENT
Rusike explained how he got his first opportunity to facilitate a transfer: “Football is something that I have loved all my life, but I am not passionate about coaching football.
“I had a friend who was a footballer as well; I had played in different countries. A coach called me for my advice on a player because no matter where I have gone to play. I have kept good relations after leaving.
“That includes being professional in doing my job. The coaches would also reach out for information because we see different things on and off the field.
“I ended up helping a player move to a certain club, after which he asked me to be his agent. But it’s not something that really interested me, and I ended up receiving calls from other players because they had seen what I had done.
“It grew organic; it’s not something I had planned, and I had also finished my studies, so that helped me have a better understanding of business, contractually,” he said.
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