Sports Open Group has called for stronger climate action in African sports, warning that plastic pollution, rising temperatures, and flooding are threatening sporting facilities, communities, and the future of the game across the continent.

The call was made during a webinar organized by the group on October 6 to mark Green Sports Day, where sports administrators and industry experts discussed practical ways to make African sports more environmentally sustainable.

The participants stressed the need to integrate environmental protection into sports development, arguing that the future of the game depends not only on investment in players and infrastructure but also on protecting the environment in which sports thrive.

The webinar was hosted by Sports Open Group founder and chief executive officer William Horsu, a FIFA-licensed football agent. Other speakers included Katrina Cosmic, a maritime and commercial law expert and FIFA-licensed football agent; Michael Aboagye, president of Excel Sporting Club and a member of the Youth Cup Dubai 2027 organizing committee; and Chris Pinderhughes, head of growth and strategy at the Africa Football Development Network.

Discussions centered on the growing environmental threats facing sports in Africa, including plastic waste at sporting venues, extreme heat affecting playing conditions, and floods damaging pitches and disrupting sporting activities.

The speakers emphasized the need for climate solutions that reflect Africa's realities, noting that strategies adopted elsewhere may not necessarily work in communities with different resources, infrastructure, and environmental challenges.

Grassroots sports was identified as a key starting point, with calls for environmental education to be incorporated into youth programs, training sessions, and community tournaments. The approach, participants suggested, could help young people develop responsible environmental habits while encouraging them to protect the spaces where they play.

The webinar also examined how sports facilities could become more environmentally friendly through improved waste management, the use of reusable materials, and partnerships to support green initiatives.

Participants maintained that sustainability must become an integral part of sports development rather than an issue addressed only after environmental problems emerge.

They further stressed the importance of involving women, girls, and young people in designing and leading sustainability programs, arguing that inclusive participation would strengthen efforts to build lasting environmental awareness within the sports community.

The role of athletes also featured prominently during the audience question-and-answer session, with discussions focusing on how prominent sports personalities could use their public profiles to promote environmental responsibility among fans and young people.

However, participants noted that public awareness alone would not be enough to deliver lasting change. They stressed that supporters, local organizers, and families must also embrace sustainable practices and make environmental responsibility part of everyday life.

The webinar concluded with a call for greater action, education, collaboration, and investment to make sustainability a central part of African sports.

The initiative forms part of Sports Open Group's ongoing commitment to education and advocacy on sustainability in African sports.

The group maintains that for African sports to continue growing and creating opportunities, greater attention must be paid to protecting the environment that supports sporting activities and the communities around them.

Planet. People. Performance.

EA