HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC — The Bermuda Football Association (BFA) has thrown its support behind national coach Andrew Bascome after he and his brother David said they were sexually abused in their early soccer careers.
Andrew Bascome broke down in tears at a news conference on Monday, saying “I’ve been molested”, adding later that it took place when he was a schoolboy player.
“It was happening when I was a player at (club side) North Village by one of the players and it went on for years,” Bascome said.
He said he had been targeted by an older player, adding: “He got the trust. It was just shameful.”
He said the abuse started in the early 1980s and continued for several years, adding that he was too ashamed to report the catalogue of sex abuse to police or responsible adults.
“I just felt so ashamed,” he said. “I didn’t know. I ask myself that, too.”
He added he still sees the predator who targeted him around the island, but tries to avoid contact with him.
“I try not to see him — I try my best not to see him,” he said.
His brother, David, a former professional player in the United States, also spoke at the press conference, which was called to launch a new drive to raise US$250,000 next year for community work. saying he had been “in that same position of being molested”.
The pair spoke out after Maceo Dill, a coach, said last week that the local game has been widely affected by sexual abuse.
He said local clubs had been a breeding ground for sexual predators looking to prey on vulnerable youngsters.
On Monday, Dill called for a criminal investigation to determine “how many more” had been targeted.
“The Bermuda Football Association stands by coach Andrew Bascome for speaking publicly of what he endured,” Mark Wade, the BFA president, said in a written statement.
“He has served football as a player and coach with distinction whilst carrying this burden. We hope that his healing continues and his bravery is an inspiration to others.
“We encourage those who continue to suffer in silence to make contact with the relevant authorities and other help agencies. Our sport has always been a reflection of life and society and we endeavour to do what we can to ensure that our clubs are a safe haven.”
It emerged last week that Bascome has decided against stepping down as Bermuda coach and will lead the team against Canada in a friendly match at the National Stadium next month.
A frustrated Bascome said he would quit his post in the wake of Bermuda’s elimination from the Scotiabank Caribbean Cup after losing a second-round match 3-0 to French Guiana in Cayenne in June.
Bascome reconsidered his position after talks with Maurice Lowe, the BFA technical development director, the Royal Gazette newspaper said.
Disclosure of the ordeals suffered by the Bascome brothers comes as English football finds itself reeling from a child sex abuse scandal which so far has identified more than 80 suspects, along with almost 100 clubs at professional and amateur level.
Former England players Paul Stewart and David White are among the players to come forward and speak about their ordeals.