The safeguarding challenges highlighted during the West African University Games (WAUG) 2026 have reinforced the need for practical, preventive measures to protect athletes and strengthen ethical sporting environments. Beyond identifying concerns relating to athlete welfare, intimidation, discrimination, psychological well-being and inadequate protection mechanisms, the sporting community must demonstrate a commitment to translating advocacy into measurable action.

In response, Maximus RMS Limited proposes a six-week safeguarding pilot project titled “TRUE GUARDIAN: Protecting Young Footballers Through Safeguarding, Welfare and Ethical Development.” The pilot is scheduled to commence on 19 October 2026, with Dominion Covenant Academy and Progress Brazilian Academy, Ile Ife as the participating academies.

The project aims to introduce young footballers to safeguarding principles, establish safer reporting pathways, strengthen awareness of appropriate coach-player relationships, promote psychological safety and build a culture of respect, accountability and ethical player development. It will also seek to improve awareness of five common safeguarding challenges: physical and emotional abuse, bullying and intimidation, discrimination, sexual harassment or exploitation, and neglect of athletes’ welfare.

The six-week intervention according to ARIYO Olayiwola, is intended to provide a practical foundation for integrating safeguarding into grassroots football rather than treating it as an occasional discussion. This is a solidifcation of the Maximus Philosophy that through age-appropriate education, engagement with coaches and academy leadership, and the promotion of clear safeguarding expectations, the pilot will seek to establish lessons that can inform future programmes and wider adoption by football academies.

For ARIYO Olayiwola, Lead at Maximus RMS Limited, the initiative represents a commitment to the organisation’s philosophy of protecting talent, developing character and creating sustainable pathways for young footballers. He is positioned to pursue the Maximus philosophy by all means through purposeful action, ethical leadership and practical interventions that place the welfare and long-term development of young athletes at the centre of football.

The proposed pilot also reflects an important lesson from WAUG 2026: sporting excellence must extend beyond medals, competition and institutional reputation to include dignity, safety, inclusion and accountability. While the WAUG experience provides the impetus for this intervention, the pilot is designed specifically for grassroots football, where early education and responsible adult leadership can help prevent harm before it becomes entrenched.

Ultimately, the TRUE GUARDIAN pilot seeks to turn safeguarding awareness into everyday practice. Its success should be assessed through measurable outcomes, including improved safeguarding knowledge, clearer reporting procedures, stronger coach and academy accountability, and documented recommendations for expanding the model to other academies.

The message is clear: protecting young footballers is not separate from developing champions; it is an essential part of building them.