How an African dream turns into a footballing nightmare

News

With the start of the African Cup of Nations on 19 January, the world’s attention will be turned to the continent’s footballing talent.

But not all young African footballers have the chance to become stars like Didier Drogba or Emmanuel Adebayor.

Thousands of teenage footballers – usually aged between 14 and 16-years-old – have fallen victim to unscrupulous, often unregistered sports agents who promise them contracts in Europe in exchange for thousands of dollars in placement fees.

All too often these agents have absolutely no connection to the teams they claim to be scouting for. But African families – desperate to offer their children the chance of a better life – are unaware and so they sell farmland and businesses or taking out crippling loans to pay the fees.

Once paid, the agents disappear and the young players are abandoned with no money, no visas, no prospects of work and no way of returning home.

Foot Solidaire is a Paris-based NGO which helps young African footballers who have been abandoned in Europe.

Founded by ex-Cameroonian youth international Jean-Claude Mbvoumin, he believes that despite all the work that has been done to raise awareness of the issue, player trafficking is worse than ever.

“We have set up a website which provides young players with information about the dangers of fake agents and human trafficking. [Young] players should take advantage of this in order to steer clear of them.

“We also have contact information for youths, parents and others, to report abuse or possible trafficking,” Mbvoumin said.

Fake agents

Mamman Doko, a 17-year-old footballer who used to play for Ebanshin Rangers in Minna, northern Nigeria, fell victim to a fake agent.

He told Equal Times how in January 2011, he was offered a place at a club in the Maltese premier league in a deal brokered by a Swedish soccer agent.

Doko says that he represented the team in few matches, but he was never paid nor was he given a contract to sign before he was let go.

Although he was officially dropped from the team because he was deemed a ‘sub-standard’ player, he believes that the real reason was because he demanded a work contract.

“[The agent] assured me that I would receive the contract and money once I arrive in Malta.

“I travelled from Nigeria on my own expenses only to be cheated by the club owner and the agent.”

Doko rejects the idea that he was dropped because he was ‘sub-standard’.

“When I was asked to stop I was surprised and so were my team mates. Had I been a bad player I would have been asked to stop after two or so matches, but it was all because they did not want to pay me anything.

“I was not given a dime. I was left stranded with no money for food or shelter and no way of going back home because my three month visa had expired. I had to do menial jobs to fend for myself,” said Doko.

Trafficking

Doko finally managed to return to Nigeria thanks to the financial assistance of friends. He is now playing for a club in Cyprus.

But his story reveals what many African – and increasingly South American and Eastern European – footballers go through at the hands of fraudulent agents.

According to reports, about 4000 young footballer players are lured to Europe every year.

Foot Solidaire has helped hundreds of abandoned youngsters return home but Mbvoumin estimated that they deal with at least 20 new cases each week, some involving players as young as 12 and 13.

“It is very tragic – because of poverty everyone wants to leave the continent to follow their dreams,” Mbvoumin told the BBC.

“But this is a political issue that needs lobbying around the globe.
“The UN and some human right groups have given us a lot of support but now we need to get the support of FIFA as well.”