The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sam Sodje

  • Sodje slams prevalence of paedophiles among coaches

    Sodje slams prevalence of paedophiles among coaches

    Former Nigeria  International Sam Sodje has  condemned strongly  the prevalence of paedophiles among youth coaches in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria.

    The retired footballer who presently shuttles between England and Delta State where he contributes to youth engagement and empowerment through sports, is sad that coaches who are entrusted with young children are abusing them sexually and destroying their tomorrow and the society is not doing enough to arrest the criminal practices.

    Said Sodje: “Sports is a powerful tool that takes millions out of poverty in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the present economic difficulties in Nigeria have led many parents to encourage their children to participate as a get-out-of-poverty vehicle.

     “In their hurry to ensure their wards participate in sports, they give them out without doing due diligence or proper background checks of the so-called youth coaches.

     “Majority of the so-called youth coaches are of questionable character and their motive is to sexually abuse these children, not to give them coaching tutorials.”

    Sodje who has traversed every nook and cranny of Delta State and other parts of Nigeria in the course of promoting his initiative “Life  After Sports” revealed that he has heard too many stories of coaches who engage in the act of sexually abusing children in the course of offering coaching services in the different sports across the country, Delta State not being an exception.

    Read Also: NIS promotes  ex-NFF protocol official  to Comptroller cadre  

    The former football star isn’t just condemning the act even as he called for coaches involved in such immoral acts to be named, shamed, prosecuted, and punished similarly to how paedophiles are treated in Europe, America, and other regions.

    Sodje also urged  parents to do serious background checks about coaches they want to entrust their children with.

    He said: “I am therefore using the medium to offer strong advice to parents to ensure that they carry out due- diligence from top officials of various sports associations across the country, Delta State inclusive, to ensure that children do not fall prey to the activities of these unscrupulous coaches with their high inclination for immortality and sexual abuses against underage children.

     “As parents, we have the responsibility and the duty to protect our children from these wicked people that are living amongst us in the society.”

    He also called on administrators to “I want to also seriously call on all the administrators of the various sports associations to make it a point of duty to carry out proper character venting of individual coaches that are attached to them and ensure that the bad eggs in their midst are disengaged and specifically banned from working with children to protect our innocent boys and girls for the good of the family, the sports sector and the society in general.”

    Sodje said that instead of romancing the issue, we need to call a spade a spade and stop the shenanigans before it gets out of control.

    The football star who played for a clutches of  English sides  including Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth, as well as Greek club Skoda Xanthi, said he  was  ready to lead the fight against this ugly practice in sports and the society at large ‘so that our children  can practice and excel in their God’s given talents, without their today and tomorrow being destroyed by paedophiles’.

  • Sodje raps NFF for delaying Eagles coaching appointment   

    Sodje raps NFF for delaying Eagles coaching appointment   

    • Saintfiet worried

    Former Nigeria International  Sam Sodje  said it was  nothing but  a disgrace that  the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) is still  dilly-dallying  over the appointment  of a substantive coach  for the  Super Eagles  months after   coach Finidi George  walked away.

    Sodje who made  his name across  English Premier League Clubs including West Brom and Portsmouth, said  it’s  unexplainable  that the NFF  has yet to  name a replacement  for Finidi  with  the qualifiers  for  the   2025 Africa Cup of Nations  due in September.  

    “It’s just sad that we are still talking about the  appointment of a coach and it’s very unfortunate  that it’s  not only football   that has gone done but sports generally in the country has really gone down , “ a miffed  Sodje  told Brila fm. “We have  to agree  that  we have lost touch of what is going on ;  and not having a coach yet at this time is terrible .

    “Maybe having an interim manager  would not have been  a bad idea but we should have settled for this long time.  

    “We needed  somebody in there because  we ’re expecting to win.  We just have to hope that we would

    “But we have to agree that preparation in this country is ridiculous.  We are far away from where every country is; and this is really a disgrace,” he affirmed.

    In a related development, Tom Saintfiet, who has accepted the offer from the NFF to be the next coach of the Super Eagles, is  reportedly becoming increasingly worried by the delay of his appointment.

    Read Also: NFF board divided over Chelle, Saintfiet for Eagles

    The Belgian coach, according to Score Nigeria , is equally concerned about what he termed as bad press he has been getting from Nigeria, adding  the managerial statistics attributed to him are “fake”.

    He has made his financial demands to the NFF, which are regarded as “affordable”, but he has yet to receive a final word from the NFF.

    The former Gambia and Togo coach also wants a definite answer on the Super Eagles post so that he could begin a proper disengagement from the Philippines, where he is in charge of the national team.

    In March 2012, he was designated as NFF technical director only for sports ministry to reverse that decision on the basis that a Nigerian could also do the job.

  • Sodje Lampoons NFF over influx of foreign coaches and assistants

     

    Former international Sam Sodje has taken a swipe at Nigeria Football federation over what he dubbed complete takeover of the national football team by foreign coaches.  The takeover according to him does not only limit the chances of local coaches to call the shots but also encourages stagnation in the system.

    He recalled that Dutch man Clemence Westerhof had just one foreign assistant when he led the super Eagles noting that the current scenario looks like relegation of local coaches.

    He accused the NFF of deceiving the public claiming it does not have money but spending a fortune on foreign coaches. As if putting the achievement made by Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr since his arrival on the scale, the former Reading defender concluded that not much impact has been made.

    “I am worried that in the Super Eagles team we have about five foreign coaches working with Gernot Rohr. This is slavery,” said Sodje, as quoted by All Africa.

    “When [Clemens] Westerhof was the Eagles coach, he only had one assistant. I see no reason the Nigerian team will have more foreign assistants when there are a lot of top coaches in Nigeria who don’t have jobs.

    “The NFF claims they don’t have money, but they can afford to pay these expatriate coaches with foreign currencies, while abandoning the domestic ones.

    “The foreign coaches’ impact has not been felt since Rohr took charge of the team. How can Nigerian coaches grow?

    “The foreign coaches working in Nigeria collect the money and leave the country with nothing to show for it.”

    Sodje adds that the influx of the foreign coaches has not given Nigeria a playing pattern.

    “In modern coaching, a team must be known for a pattern. What I think the Eagles need now is to have a solid defence. A good defensive coach will solve this problem.

    If you have a good defence and an organised attack, your team will excel,” explained the 39-year-old who made four appearances for the Super Eagles between 2005 and 2009 featuring mostly in friendly matches but making competitive debut in the 3-0 defeat of Harambee Stars in the qualifiers ahead of the 2010 World cup in South Africa under late Shuaibu Amodu.

    While Sodje’s lamentation centers mainly on the composition of coaches in the super Eagles the Super Falcons technical crew equally has its own share of the structure.

    A source in the Glass House who does not want to be named said the Glass House is only desirous of getting result and will not be dragged into the foreign coach versus local coach brouhaha. “What the country needs is impressive result, end of story”

    While Rohr may have achieved result by qualifying the Eagles for the Nations Cup in Egypt and Thomas Dennerby may have done so by qualifying Falcons for the World cup in France, some say the real result will be assessed by how far they go in both tournaments billed for June this year.

     

  • Eagles need a top foreign manager – Sodje

    Eagles need a top foreign manager – Sodje

    Former Nigeria international, Sam Sodje, has said the country needs a top foreign coach to return the Super Eagles to the top.

    “I won’t really want to say foreign coach is what the Eagles need, but I think the rate at which the team is declining, a foreign coach might be what we should consider at this point, no disrespect to our home-grown coaches,” Sodje told africanFootball.com.

    “But we need a proven and good manager, someone who has the credentials to speak for him.

    “If NFF is not ready for such coach, there is no need to get a foreign coach.”

    Sodje, who is holding talks with English teams like Manchester City, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Liverpool for partnership with the Delta Elite U-16 League, said Nigeria coaches have not shown they are good enough to handle the Eagles.

    “No disrespect to Nigerian coaches, but the fact remains we really lack a top-grade manager,” he said.

    “There are so many things they can do to improve themselves, though administrators still have a big part to play in this.

    “The sad thing is that the few local coaches I have met think they know everything and then they stop learning.”

  • Sam Sodje visits Delta State Governor, Okowa

    Sam Sodje visits Delta State Governor, Okowa

    Former Nigeria international Sam Sodje paid a courtesy call on the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Wednesday.

    During the meeting, the ex Reading and West Brom central defender focused his discussion on the development of sports, football in particular, in the state.

    Sammy, an important member of the Sodje dynasty, is dismayed at reports of Nigeria’s great footballing heroes and upcoming stars suffering and struggling after the sport and wants his project to correct that.

    “The key subject of the meeting was about adding value to the new government and state, and I’m very involved,” said Sam Sodje to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    “The welfare of footballers and sports people is very important to me and having a program of life after football and sport.”

    Hon. Ovie Festus Agas, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Victor Onogagamue, Director-General of the DSSC and Mr Stephen Cole were also involved in the meeting between Sam Sodje and the Governor.

    Sam Sodje has a Gas Engineering diploma from the University of Watford and will soon complete a Bachelor’s degree in the same discipline.

  • Sam Sodje breaks silence

    Sam Sodje breaks silence

    Match-fixing allegation

     

    Sam Sodje , 34, has broken his silence for the first time since he was accused of match fixing.

    It would be recalled that last December, British media had released video evidence which suggested that the former Portsmouth defender had agreed to throw away matches in return for cash.

    But Sam Sodje has always maintained that he is innocent and was set up by investigative journalist, Mazher Mahmood .

    Speaking to allnigeriasoccer.com, Sodje said : “It is a media stunt and the media tried to put me in trouble. The Police do not know what really happened, I was used to get a headline.

    “What I said on tape is all b*****t. . My lawyer, Whitworth & Green Solicitors will take legal action against the newspaper.

    “Let them come up with phone evidence. I have never been involved in match fixing. The tape we watched was only 10 minutes.

    “If you are investigating someone for match fixing, the law states that you must have a source that previously implicated that individual.”

    Furthermore, the Nigeria international explained how he got himself into this mess, stating that Mazher Mahmood had approached him to do some charity work in the Middle East.

    “I wanted to do charity work for him in Dubai, for retired players to have a testimonial and the proceeds will go to the less privileged.

    “And that was what Mahmood came to talk to me about, this was on for nine months.

    “Let them check my phone records from January to December, I never spoke about match fixing.

    “Portsmouth even confirmed that I was never fined and did not pay 10,000 pounds to the club,” added Sodje.

    • Threatens to sue British newspaper

  • Sodje brothers arrested

    Sodje brothers arrested

    Former Portsmouth star Sam Sodje and brother Stephen were arrested in a dawn swoop. The arrests came after Sodje, 34, was filmed claiming he could arrange for players to pick up yellow cards in exchange for cash.

    Nigeria-born Sodje demanded £30,000 for a booking and £50,000 for a player to get a red card during a match. He even claimed he punched a player in the groin during a match to be deliberately sent off – and pick up a £70,000 bung.

    The former Reading and Brentford defender also boasted that he could rig Premier League and World Cup games. The brothers were arrested by detectives from the National Crime Agency at their homes in Abbeywood, south London.

    Cops were seen carrying away evidence, including a desktop computer, from Stephen’s £120,000 home. Oldham Athletic star Cristian Montano, 21, was also filmed discussing match-fixing in the sting.

    He was caught on tape apologising for failing to pick up a booking for cash during a game.

    Another of Sodje’s brothers, Akpo, 33, who plays for Tranmere Rovers, was also captured discussing spot-fixing. A third man was arrested in connection with the case Monday but police refused to reveal if it was Montano or Akpo.

    Sodje told an undercover investigator that he had “sorted” one former Premier League player to deliberately pick up a booking. He said the star, who cannot be named, received £30,000 in exchange for the yellow card during a Championship match.

    “This guy came to meet me at my house and it was sorted. That’s how easy it is – it’s nothing. The booking one is easy. You just push someone, swear at the referee, kick the ball away. A yellow card is a standard thing. No one would even be suspicious,” boasted the former Nigeria international.

    Sodje allegedly demanded a Rolex watch and a Range Rover for acting as “fixer” for the dodgy deal. He said he picked up £70,000 after deliberately getting sent off while playing for Portsmouth earlier this year.

    The player received a red card after punching Oldham’s Jose Baxter twice in the crotch. Sodje also claimed he could rig Premier League games and had discussed match-fixing with several top names.

    Montano was filmed apologising to Sodje after failing to get booked in the first half of a clash between Oldham and Wolves.

    An NCA spokeswoman confirmed the arrests and said they were working closely with the FA and Gambling Commission.

    “Three people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers,” she said. “We cannot comment further at this stage.”

    Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “We treat any allegations of criminal activity with the utmost seriousness. Given that there is an ongoing police investigation into this matter, we cannot comment further at this time.

    “Although, we would encourage anyone with any evidence to report it to the police. We will be giving our full assistance to the police during their investigation.”

    In a statement, the Football Association said: “The FA is aware of the National Crime Agency investigation. We are working closely with the NCA and other authorities. We will make no further comment at this time.”

    A Gambling Commission spokesman said it was “supporting” the ongoing NCA investigation. Illegal betting syndicates are worth an estimated £320 billion – fuelled by ‘in-game’ betting.

    The majority of revenues are generated in Asia, where the gambling industry is unregulated. The NCA is already carrying out a separate investigation into an alleged international illegal betting syndicate.

    Michael Boateng and Hakeem Adelakun, both 22, were charged last week with conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.

    The pair, who played for Conference South club Whitehawk FC, were dismissed by their club and will appear in court on Wednesday.

    Chann Sankaran, 33, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, were charged last month with plotting to defraud bookmakers.

    Portsmouth FC said they would co-operate with police and league officials if contacted.

    Spokesman Colin Farmery said: “If these serious allegations are true then we are extremely shocked and saddened by them. Match-fixing of any type goes to the heart of the integrity of the game. The player in question no longer plays for the club and we have not been contacted by the authorities, but of course we would cooperate fully with any inquiry.”

    Guy Whittingham, who was manager of Portsmouth at the time, said the claims brought back memories of the match in which Sam Sodje was sent off.

    He said: “Sam came racing over – and I didn’t actually see the incident at the time itself – but then you see it in the cold light of day afterwards and you see what he’s done and you can’t fathom out why he’s done it.

    Oldham Athletic said it would be launching an “immediate internal investigation” into the claims surrounding Montano.

    “The club is co-operating with other agencies in this matter and cannot comment on specific facts,” it added in a statement.

    Oldham’s former player and manager Andy Ritchie said: “I’m dismayed. I know they are only allegations but I feel if they proven, and it remains to seen they will be, it will be very disappointing.

    “We are fully co-operating with the investigation. If something like this is happening it is terrible. You are letting your team-mates down, your team down. It could cost a club a place in the league. I believe and I hope football is a game of integrity.”