What Happened to Brandon of BT Football Academy – And What SAFA Must Do Next

By Lance Janari

The BT Football Academy scandal has left South Africa stunned. What began as a dream tour to the prestigious Donosti Cup in Spain ended in chaos, with over 30 young footballers stranded abroad, their families back home scrambling for answers and emergency funds.

Each family paid R50,000 for what was promised to be a fully covered trip. But when the tournament ended, it was revealed that return flights had never been booked. The academy’s founder, Brandon Timmy, admitted fault and issued a public apology, calling it a “serious mistake” 2. Coaches resigned en masse, and the academy shut down immediately.

But the question remains: How is BT Football not facing criminal charges?

Two fraud cases have been opened with the Grassy Park and Wynberg SAPS, and investigations are ongoing 2. Legal experts argue that the misrepresentation of travel arrangements constitutes fraud, and parents have grounds for both criminal and civil litigation. Yet, no arrests have been made, and the process appears slow and uncertain.

This scandal has exposed a gaping hole in South African football governance. BT Football Academy was not registered with SAFA, meaning it operated outside the formal structures meant to protect young athletes . It raises urgent questions:

Why are pop-up clubs and soccer schools allowed to call themselves academies?

What is SAFA doing to regulate and monitor these entities?

How can parents verify the legitimacy of football programs before investing thousands?

SAFA’s own guidelines are clear: no club or organization may operate a football academy without a valid license issued by the Youth Development Committee U8. These licenses require compliance with child safety standards, educational integration, and proper governance. Yet, enforcement appears weak, and unregistered entities continue to exploit the dreams of young players and their families.

This is a wake-up call.

SAFA must:

Launch a national audit of all football academies and development centres.

Publicly list licensed academies and their compliance status.

Introduce a verification portal for parents to check legitimacy before enrolling their children.

Work with law enforcement to ensure accountability for fraudulent operators.

Brandon Timmy’s apology, while emotional, does not absolve the damage done. The children were left vulnerable in a foreign country, some with expired visas, relying on community fundraising and embassy support to get home. This is not just a scandal—it’s a betrayal of trust.

South African football deserves better. Our children deserve better.