Welcome to Safe Sport Storyline
Safe Sport Storyline will be a weekly newsletter featuring commentary, articles, information, news, and links to resources on safeguarding in sport.
Why Safe Sport Storyline
I read an article recently about “enshittification” which got me thinking about my personal social media experiences and frustrations. The term coined by Cory Doctorow, refers broadly to the deterioration of services (especially online) as a result of giant companies extracting maximum profits from their customers. You can read more here.
I regularly post my personal thoughts on safe sport matters on social media but have been increasingly limiting this to LinkedIn as posts on other platforms are simply not reaching the people that are interested in receiving this information.
So, over the holiday season whilst reflecting on all this, I decided now is the time to rationalise the way I share information on Safe Sport. Safe Sport Storyline will be a free service that you can sign up to providing commentary (my thoughts), articles, news, information, and links to news items and resources on safeguarding in sport. We will cover safe sport globally, but this newsletter will have a strong bias towards Africa as we try to elevate safeguarding in African sport. My intention is to publish Safe Sport Storyline weekly.
The Price of a Cup of Coffee
Safe Sport Storyline will always be a free newsletter but for those that want a deeper level of engagement or simply want to support the newsletter financially, you can buy me a cup of coffee from time to time.
I have a colleague and friend, Ian Braid who is also an advocate for safe sport. Ian runs an organisation called DOCIA (Duty of Care in Action). Ian and I first met for a coffee at the Café Ritazza at Victoria Station in London in 2004. Back then I was the CEO of the British Triathlon Federation and Ian was an age group triathlete and businessman. He has an idea to leverage member services for the British Triathlon Federation and requested a meeting.
Whilst Ian did not manage to sell me the business idea, I did manage to persuade him to volunteer in the sport. As Ian explains… “A cold call with the then CEO, Norman Brook MBE, in 2004 opened the door for me as a volunteer into a blend of voluntary and paid roles in sport. Norman said to me ‘everything is worth the price of a cup of coffee’ and he’s right. If that coffee hadn’t been drunk in the Café Ritazza at Victoria station London I wouldn’t have had the highs, lows, rewards (definitely so much more than the money – this is sport, right?), friends and life lessons I’ve had”.
So, this idea ‘everything is worth the price of a cup of coffee’ still applies today as I often meet up with people looking for advice in sport and especially safeguarding in sport over a cup of coffee.
For those that want to access additional services such an online mentoring or access to unique safeguarding tools you can buy me a monthly cup of coffee.
Victims not Survivors
My thoughts recently have been with two young people from South Africa who will never be survivors of sexual abuse connected to sport as they are no longer with us.
On the 20th of February 2020, Sibusiso Dakuse (12), was persuaded by a local basketball coach to walk with him from the basketball courts to the local shopping centre. The route followed a local river, and the coach took the young boy into the river bank reeds and raped him.
It was reported that Sibusiso stood up for himself and told the coach that he would tell his father what the coach had done. In order that he could not, the coach murdered him. Sibusiso's body was found two days later in the reeds.
On the 13th of April 2024, Khanyile Ntetho (23) was at the home of her netball coach celebrating a win by their team. Her coach and two friends allegedly made sexual advances to her that she rejected. This led to Khanyile allegedly being shot and killed by them when she rejected their advances.
The next day, the family was worried as she hadn't come home, and her phone was off. The family went to the coach’s house to ask about Khanyile’s whereabouts, but they could not locate her. They later learned that the suspects had local dropped Khanyile's lifeless body in front of a hospital.
In both cases, these two young people lost their lives to people they trusted, individuals who held some status due to the positions they held in sport. Sibusiso's rapist and murderer was known in his community as a sports coach who worked at a local school and club. Khanyile's alleged abuser and murderer was known in the community as a football and netball coach.
Both victims showed resilience and stood up against the abuse and then suffered the worst possible form of interpersonal violence losing their lives.
It is important that we build resilience in the young people we work with in sport and ensure they understand their rights. This is however not enough if we are to create safe environments in sport for children and young people. We have to address the mindsets and cultures of adults that lead to situations of abuse and sadly, as in the two cases I have outlined above, can lead to devastating outcomes.
Safeguarding in sport is moving forward but we still have a long way to go. If you are involved in sport in Africa, we need come together to get behind this agenda prioritise safeguarding in all sports.
Trafficking in Football is Real
The exploitation of young football players, their families, and communities, in Africa, by fake agents trafficking them to Europe for financial gain is a very real problem.
Young players and their families living in relative poverty are preyed upon for financial extortion with promises of a brighter future based on playing professional football in Europe.
Nigerian teenager, Jerry Yamlak Moses, who recently posted a video on social media appealing for help to get out of the bad situation he found himself in appears to be a victim of trafficking through football. In the video, it is clear that he has been physically assaulted, allegedly by the fake agent that brought him to Serbia.
Slovenian, Ivan Trajkovic, is accused of acting as a football agent bringing Moses from Nigeria to Serbia with promise of a professional football career. The Nigerian Football Federation confirmed with FIFA that Trajkovic is not a licenced agent and was acting outside the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players. If he had been, he would have known that the international transfers of players are only permitted if the player is over the age of 18.
Moses who does not turn 18 years until October 2025 appears to have been in Serbia from at least June of 2024 which means he moved countries aged 16 years. The Nigerian under 16 international is said to have had his trip to Serbia funded by a sponsor who was paying €1500.00 a month to Trajkovic.
When the sponsor stopped paying the monthly amount, presumably because there was no sign of a professional contract, Moses’ relationship with the fake agent appears to have spiralled downhill resulting in physical and emotional abuse.
Moses explained “It all started when I demanded my return ticket to return to Nigeria. He became aggressive and abusive, snatched the fork I was eating with and injured me in the process. Things boiled over when I reprimanded him for impersonation, and using my pictures to attract unsuspecting young footballers, claiming he can find clubs for them. He knew that since I was not 18 years, I won’t be allowed to sign a deal, but I guess his aim was to use me to extort cash from my sponsor”.
Moses has since been repatriated to Nigeria after an intervention by a third party and Nigerian government and football authorities.
Much more needs to be done to raise awareness amongst young players and parents in Africa of the rules regarding the transfer of players highlighting the need to make sure the football agent is licenced by FIFA and is legitimate and that you cannot travel to play for an overseas club prior to 18 years of age.
FIFA Foundation establishes Safe Football Support Unit
The FIFA Foundation has confirmed the establishment of the Safe Football Support Unit (SFSU); an impartial dedicated unit that will offer specialist guidance and support services to victims of violence (physical, sexual and psychological harassment and abuse) in football. Operating under the auspices of the FIFA Foundation, the SFSU will be led by an Independent Panel supported by Special Advisors and a Survivors Advisory Group. The SFSU will be fully impartial in all its activities with wider stakeholder engagement undertaken as required.
The launch of the SFSU follows an extensive global consultation process that involved more than 230 stakeholders. A multi-stakeholder Safe Sport Entity Interim Steering Group, supported by four thematic expert groups, and survivors of abuse in sport themselves summarised their findings in a Final Report, which highlighted the need to provide impartial specialist support to the victims of violence in football to help them to come forward whilst continuing to develop additional multisport solutions for the longer term. The creation of the SFSU, the first of its kind within the international football community, aims to respond to incidents of violence by providing impartial specialist guidance and support to victims and whistleblowers at local level using first do-no-harm practices, and by offering trauma-informed case management services to the disciplinary bodies of the football ecosystem.
FIFA Foundation Executive Chairman Mauricio Macri said: “I must sincerely thank all those who took part in the comprehensive consultation process – the Safe Sport Entity Interim Steering Group, the four expert groups, and the survivors themselves whose voices have been heard. We commit to enabling the new Safe Football Support Unit to become a trusted resource for victims and survivors.” Although measures to protect the vulnerable are already in place, such as through the FIFA Guardians safeguarding programme; the SFSU will provide a safe place for victims to speak freely about their experiences to impartial experts; and eventually through the trauma-informed support services the SFSU will offer – to find peace and justice. “We hope that the Safe Football Support Unit will help to address some of the prevailing gaps through football, and we will continue to support ongoing efforts to create multisport solutions at national, regional and international levels to address violence in sport for the longer term together with our counterparts,” Mr Macri added. The Independent Panel and its Special Advisors will now focus on set up procedures, including the establishment of a Survivors Advisory Group, and the appointment of key personnel and expert service providers to facilitate the SFSU in launching its’ support services.
The new Safe Football Support Unit aims to help address prevailing gaps through football, whilst supporting ongoing independent multi stakeholder multisport national, regional, and international efforts to address cases of violence in sport around the world for the longer term.
Independent Panel members of the unit include Mr Kupakwashe Mukurumbira from Zimbabwe who is an Advisory Board Member, International Safeguards for Children in Sport; Advisory Board Member, Safe Sport International; and Member of the Safeguarding in Sports Expert Pool, Council of Europe.
Safeguarding Practitioners Network Africa
Like every aspect of life in Africa there is a need to decolonise and localise sport on the continent. We are therefore excited to see the launch of the Safeguarding Practitioners Network Africa. This platform is for safeguarding professionals across Africa who are passionate about promoting local leadership, accountability, and sustainable safeguarding solutions.
The Safeguarding Practitioners Network (SPN) brings together practitioners, experts, and organizations to:
✅ Share experiences and best practices in safeguarding.
✅ Strengthen localization efforts to drive impactful solutions.
✅ Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across the region.
This is more than just a network—it’s a movement to redefine safeguarding through African expertise and local ownership.
📢 Stay connected for:
1. Insights, tools, and resources on safeguarding practices.
2. Updates on events, capacity-building initiatives, and conferences.
3. Opportunities to engage and learn from fellow practitioners across Africa.
We wish the network every success in bringing together practitioners, experts, and organizations to strengthen safeguarding systems and promote solutions that reflect local needs and expertise.
To connect to the Safeguarding Practitioners Network Africa use this LinkedIn Link.
In the News
US Center for SafeSport sexual abuse investigator charged with rape
A former police officer fired from his job as an investigator at the US Center for SafeSport for allegedly stealing money seized at a drug bust has been arrested again and charged with rape and sex trafficking.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala embroiled in sexual abuse allegations
SABC Sport has established Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala is the subject of serious allegations of sexual harassment, emotional abuse and inappropriate coach-athlete relationships.
Kenya unveils GBV and safeguarding in sports committee to protect athletes
In a bid to fight Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and enhance safeguarding in Kenya’s Sports sector, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports has unveiled the Gender Protection and Implementation Committee which is tasked with the mandate of developing policies to curb GBV and create a safe working environment for sportswomen and even men.
Resources
Children and Young People Safe Practices, Do's & Don'ts
Sports Integrity Australia have published an excellent free to download resource titled “Children and Young People Safe Practices; Do's & Don'ts”.
The Children and Young People Safe Practices have been developed to identify and prevent behaviour that may be harmful to children and young people participating in sport. The ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ have been developed to provide practical and tangible actions that can and should be followed by anyone involved in the delivery of programs, services or activities to children and young people participating in sport.
IOC Consensus Statement on Safeguarding in Sport
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has published a new Consensus Statement on Safeguarding and Interpersonal Violence in Sport.
The statement includes a major review of research using this evidence base with updated strategies and insights, integrating a surge in safeguarding research advancement, including:
a new socio-ecological model of interpersonal violence in sport;
the voices and perspectives of athletes – recognising their vital wisdom in creating effective safeguarding practices;
an expanded focus – accounting for the many societal influences on sport; and diverse experiences of ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, children and individuals with a disability.