Sam Sodje Raises Alarm Over Alleged Prevalence of Pedoph!les Among Coaches in Nigeria
Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has sounded the alarm regarding the alleged prevalence of pedoph!les among coaches in Delta State and across Nigeria.
In an interview with Premium Times, Sodje, who played for clubs such as Reading, West Bromwich Albion, and Charlton Athletic, claimed that some coaches are s*xually abusing young athletes entrusted to their care.
“Sport is a powerful tool that can lift millions out of poverty in Nigeria and around the world. The current economic challenges have led many parents to encourage their children to engage in sports as a means of escaping poverty,” he stated.
Sodje emphasized that, in their eagerness to have their children participate, parents often overlook the importance of conducting thorough background checks on youth coaches.
“Many of these so-called youth coaches have questionable motives and character; their true intent is to s*xually exploit these children rather than provide proper coaching,” he added.
He urged parents to conduct serious background checks on coaches before entrusting them with their children.
“I implore parents to carry out due diligence on the officials of various sports associations, including those in Delta State, to protect their children from the predatory behaviors of these unscrupulous coaches,” he said.
“It is our responsibility as parents to shield our children from these wicked individuals living among us.”
Sodje also called on sports association administrators to ensure thorough character vetting of coaches associated with their organizations, advocating for the removal and prohibition of any individuals found unsuitable to work with children.
“We need to address this issue directly and take action before it escalates,” he concluded.