Coach charged with sexual abuse of minor
Colonie police said man allegedly took youth to a motel
A youth soccer coach was arrested on Sunday for allegedly taking a minor to a motel for sex, Colonie police said.
Amgad S. Abdalla, 29, known as Coach Ali, allegedly brought the victim, who is less than 15 years old, to the motel on Saturday, police said.
Abdalla, who coaches for a club called the Albany Warriors, was charged with felony criminal sex act, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Albany Warriors is an independent youth soccer club, sponsored by the Ballston Spa Soccer Club. Police said Abdalla does not coach or have any interaction with the Ballston Spa teams. The Warriors are also not connected to the Albany Youth Soccer league nor the Albany Soccer Club.
Police said that in addition to coaching Abdalla also served as a social worker/mentor for his Albany players.
The now defunct website All Over Albany profiled Abdalla in 2017, and discussed his involvement with soccer and his volunteer work with refugees like himself.
The Times Union had not been immediately able Tuesday to reach a representative from the Albany Warriors for comment.
“Although we are not aware of any other victims at this time, the nature of the allegations and the defendant’s access to a vulnerable population is concerning,” Colonie police said in a statement.
Colonie police said anyone with information related to the investigation or information on other victims should contact the investigations division at 518-783-2754.
Abdalla was arraigned in the town of Colonie Justice Court and sent to the Albany County Correctional Facility where he is being held pending bail. He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.