https://digivn.dw.com/view/250321-09-0999

Lower thirds:

0:03  Report by / Danya Barsalona
0:11  Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko / Ghanaian football player
0:57  Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko / Ghanaian football player
2:22  Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player

Script:

00:00
OFF: 

Abdul Gafar’s life looks very different from what he once imagined. As a child in Ghana, he dreamed of becoming a professional football player.

0:10
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
 Every player in Africa’s goal is to come to Europe and play 

0:15
OFF: 
But he was abandoned by so-called agents after being taken abroad. Many young African footballers are moved around with the same dream, often in exchange for thousands of euros. These agents hope to cash in on the dreams of young boys who see football as a chance at a better life.

0:32
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
There's so much corruption in the system. They come with sweet math. And you know footballers, you are suffering in Africa. You don't have good things in Africa. If an agent comes and says, Okay, this is the situation. I'm taking you to Europe. You do 

0:45
OFF
His agent had his player pass, meaning he owned him and controlled his moves in football. For his first move, he was given a fake invitation to a club in Tanzania.
 
0:56
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++ 
He took two of us, one striker and one midfielder. 
We got arrested for something we didn't even know.

+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
It's like child trafficking. 

1:05
OFF:
His "agent" then secured a transit visa and fake papers, allowing him six months at a second-division club in Ethiopia. Later he learned the visa wasn't valid, since he was there illegally, and he had to pay a hefty fine. 

1:18
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
I had to stay there for four years to be able to pay all the money before I left.  

1:25
OFF: 
Abdul Gafar's agent was arrested but he stayed silent because he still needed help. 

1:31
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
I protected him. I'm like, he didn't know. So that's why things like this happened.

1:38
OFF: 
A new agent proposed an opportunity with a club in Ukraine, and Abdul Gafar jumped at the chance to move to Europe.

1:45
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
It's funny because I thought I was going to play direct contract.

1:49 
OFF
But instead of playing and getting paid by the club, he was asked to pay for the cost of his room and board. 

1:56
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
I didn't earn anything because it's either you go back or you play for free, then you get some videos, you get some connections. Europe, then you can move.

2:04
OFF:
He was able to come to Berlin, Germany, through a personal connection. He hoped to find a professional club, but it was much harder than he expected. Now, he has a job, a family and plays on Sunday's with other Africans, many of whom share similar experiences in football.

2:21
+++ Abdul Gafar Yakubu Deeko, Ghanaian football player +++
I found out that it's not easy in Germany when you are not from here. They’re like you're good, but it will be difficult because you are black. 
Now I'm working. I'm a painter. And at the same time, I'm working with kids, teaching because I've passed through a lot. It’s really really important for the young ones (footballers) to know that it's not just as they see, it has sad stories as well. 

2:49
OFF: 
A hard learned lesson he hopes other young aspiring football players in Africa will learn from. 

2:54 end