Former Whitecaps Player Shocked by Alleged Abuser’s Reinstatement as Coach

Malloree Enoch, who alleges she experienced sexual misconduct by former Whitecaps women’s coach Hubert Busby Jr., expressed shock after discovering that he has been reinstated as head coach of the Jamaican women’s national team. Enoch, who says Busby used his position to coerce her during recruiting trips in 2011, believes his past behavior should disqualify him from coaching altogether.

“It’s a moral issue,” said Enoch. “I wouldn’t want my child playing for someone like that.” She initially came forward with her allegations in 2021, amid other revelations of abuse within Canadian soccer, including charges against former coach Bob Birarda.

Busby was initially suspended by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) after Enoch’s accusations surfaced, and FIFA’s ethics committee was asked to investigate. However, this May, JFF announced Busby’s reinstatement, stating that FIFA had cleared him. FIFA later confirmed that the preliminary investigation had been closed due to the statute of limitations.

Enoch said she only learned about Busby’s return to coaching by searching his name online, a discovery that left her feeling that little had changed in fostering a safe environment for players.

After Enoch’s story went public, she was heartened by a call from Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster, who offered an apology and discussed future safeguards for player safety.

“It feels like Jamaica handled it more defensively than truly understanding the facts,” Enoch added.