Trafficked Professional Footballer Turns Survivor, Earns Prestigious Diploma to Combat Human Trafficking in Dubai

A young man who once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer in Europe has turned one of the darkest chapters of his life into a mission for change. Known publicly only as S.G., he is a survivor of human trafficking who has now completed a specialised diploma in combating the very crime that nearly destroyed him.

 

From Football Dreams to Trafficking Nightmare

In his youth, S.G. was a talented football player in his home country. His dream of playing in Europe seemed within reach when a man approached him, claiming to be a football agent. The so-called broker promised him a place in a club in Africa as a stepping stone to Europe. Excited, S.G. gathered his savings and travelled across the desert to pursue his goal.

 

What awaited him was no football club, but a human trafficking network. The broker was in fact part of the gang. Instead of joining a team, S.G. was forced into exploitative labour. His captors made him guard and transport women in the sex trade, subjecting him to severe beatings and death threats when he tried to resist. His first attempt to escape ended in brutal assault and renewed threats to his life. Only on his second attempt, with help from a sympathetic stranger, did he finally succeed. After crossing through several countries, he managed to return home, scarred but alive.

 

A New Start in Dubai

Encouraged by a friend to rebuild his life, S.G. travelled to Dubai on a visitor’s visa and found work with a private security company at one of the city’s airports. The job brought him much-needed stability and helped restore his sense of dignity. His employer, recognising his commitment, nominated him for the Anti-Human Trafficking Specialist Diploma, a programme jointly launched by the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking, Dubai Police, the Dubai Judicial Institute, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

 

Turning Pain into Knowledge

Despite the trauma of his past, S.G. excelled in the programme. He not only met all diploma requirements but also produced an in-depth research study titled “Border Control Procedures to Prevent Human Trafficking Crimes.” In his work, he highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive training programmes for law enforcement and border control officials, stressing that officers must be equipped to identify trafficking indicators, safeguard victims’ rights, and act quickly when cases arise.

 

His study also called for stronger cooperation between agencies, greater public awareness campaigns, more robust victim support systems offering medical, legal and social assistance, and the adoption of advanced border control measures, including biometric technology and risk-based profiling.

 

“Knowledge is Protection”

Reflecting on his achievement, S.G. described the diploma as a turning point.
“I joined the programme at my manager’s recommendation,” he said. “I hadn’t spoken about my past to him, but during the course I opened up to my classmates. They were shocked, but their support encouraged me to persevere. This diploma deepened my understanding of human trafficking and gave me the tools to share that knowledge with my colleagues. In our sector, recognising the signs could save lives.”

 

For him, the greatest lesson is that knowledge and awareness are the strongest shields against traffickers.

 

From Survivor to Specialist

S.G.’s journey from a football hopeful, deceived and exploited by a trafficking gang, to a diploma-holding specialist in Dubai, embodies resilience and transformation. Where once he was a victim, today he is part of the fight against human trafficking -- determined to ensure others do not fall into the same trap.

 

 

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