ALLEGED FRAUD HITS BT ACADEMY

'No booking was ever made, and he kept the money'

- MARSHA BOTHMA

POLICE have launched an investigation into fraud allegations against the owner of the football academy at the centre of a trip to Spain that resulted in more than 30 children being stranded after not having return tickets.

The mother of one of the players, whose identity is being withheld, has come forward and accused Brandon Timmy of misleading her about her son's return flight and refusing to refund the money.

She said her son did not experience the trip after misplacing his passport at Dubai airport and never made it to Spain with the rest of the team.

She also claims Timmy assured her the flight was booked, but no ticket ever existed.

Initially, 38 people travelled to Spain to participate in the Donosti Cup. After the tournament ended, 10 returned home on their own, but the remaining 28 - mostly children and three coaches - were left stranded without return flights, sparking widespread concern.