Maximus RMS Launches TRUE GUARDIAN Safeguarding Pilot for Young Footballers

Maximus RMS Limited will commence a six-week safeguarding pilot on October 19, 2026, targeting young footballers at two academies in Ile-Ife, with a focus on athlete welfare, ethical coaching and safer sporting environments.

Maximus RMS Limited is set to launch a six-week safeguarding initiative, TRUE GUARDIAN: Protecting Young Footballers Through Safeguarding, Welfare and Ethical Development, to promote the safety, well-being and ethical development of young footballers in Nigeria.

The pilot, scheduled to begin on October 19, 2026, will involve Dominion Covenant Academy and Progress Brazilian Academy, both in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The initiative follows safeguarding concerns highlighted during the West African University Games (WAUG) 2026, which reinforced the need for practical measures to protect athletes and promote responsible sporting environments.

Beyond raising awareness, TRUE GUARDIAN aims to translate safeguarding advocacy into practical action by equipping young players with knowledge of their rights, improving access to reporting channels and encouraging appropriate relationships between coaches and players.

The programme will also address five key safeguarding concerns: physical and emotional abuse, bullying and intimidation, discrimination, sexual harassment or exploitation, and neglect of athletes’ welfare.

According to ARIYO Olayiwola, lead at Maximus RMS Limited, the pilot reflects the organisation’s commitment to protecting talent, developing character and creating sustainable pathways for young footballers.

The six-week intervention is designed to establish safeguarding as an integral part of grassroots football development rather than an occasional discussion.

Through age-appropriate education, engagement with coaches and academy leadership, and the promotion of clear safeguarding expectations, the programme will seek to encourage a culture of respect, accountability and psychological safety within participating academies.

The initiative will also emphasise the importance of ethical leadership and responsible adult conduct in creating environments where young players can develop their abilities without fear of abuse, intimidation or exploitation.

From Awareness to Practical Action

For Maximus RMS, the TRUE GUARDIAN pilot represents an opportunity to embed safeguarding principles into the everyday operations of grassroots football academies.

The programme’s approach is built on the belief that early education, clear reporting procedures and greater accountability among coaches and academy administrators can help prevent harm before it becomes entrenched.

While the experiences surrounding WAUG 2026 provided the impetus for the intervention, TRUE GUARDIAN is specifically designed to address safeguarding needs at the grassroots level, where young players require appropriate guidance, protection and support throughout their development.

The initiative also underscores the need to broaden the understanding of sporting excellence beyond medals, victories and institutional reputation to include dignity, inclusion, safety and accountability.

Measuring the Impact

The success of the pilot will be assessed through measurable outcomes, including improvements in safeguarding knowledge among young players, clearer reporting procedures, stronger accountability among coaches and academy leadership, and documented recommendations for expanding the model to other football academies.

These outcomes are expected to provide a practical foundation for future safeguarding interventions and support wider adoption of structured player-protection measures across grassroots football.

For Olayiwola and Maximus RMS Limited, the underlying philosophy is that protecting young footballers must remain central to talent identification, coaching and long-term player development.

The TRUE GUARDIAN initiative seeks to reinforce that principle by making safeguarding an essential part of the football development process.

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