INVESTIGATION / Is Afriskaut Reviving or Risking Gambia’s Grassroots Football? - Alkamba Times

This investigative piece, published by The Alkamba Times, explores the blurred lines between corporate sponsorship and control in grassroots football development in The Gambia. The focus is Afriskaut – a tech-driven scouting company that entered into an agreement with the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) to sponsor a youth league. What began as a partnership to enhance player visibility evolved into a sponsorship deal that included a deeply contentious clause: Afriskaut would be entitled to 55% of any future transfer fee from players participating in the league it financed. This clause, uncovered through documents and confirmed by sources, raises critical questions about the fine line between support and exploitation, especially in a context where youth players lack regulatory protections. The article’s publication prompted swift and widespread reaction — not only within media circles, but also among football stakeholders in The Gambia and beyond. It ignited a nationwide conversation on ethics, transparency, and corporate involvement in grassroots football.