Soccer coach on seven sodomy charges

SEVEN young soccer players claim to have been sodomised by their soccer coach.

The victims, aged between 8 and 14, reported their painful experience to their parents, who took the matter to the KwaSane police.

The Under 15 soccer players of Emganwini Reserve at Mtubatuba revealed that their ordeal at the hands of their trusted coach started in 2018.

It is reported that while a 14-year-old team member had reported the abuse, six of the victims only shared the horror of their sexual assaults after intense questioning by a local social worker and their parents.

Ward 11 councillor Zakhele Nyawo, said parents were tipped off that their children had been raped, but when they reported the matter to the police, the young victims denied any sexual victimisation by their coach, as the suspect had allegedly threatened to kill their mothers if they exposed him.

‘I personally, together with the local social worker, visited the victims. During our investigation, the boys opened up and admitted having been raped by the same coach.

‘The victims said their coach had even bought them cellphones so that he could contact them.

‘One of the victims, who could not control his emotions, said the suspect raped him after showing him male porn from his cellphone,’ he said.

Nyawo added that, after the arrest, he went to the suspect’s house to make some enquiries.

‘His family member said that they had been suspicious of his behaviour as he used to lock himself in his room every time he was visited by a boy,’ said Nyawo.

One of the victims’ grandmother explained that the suspect used to spend nights in her homestead.

‘We did not suspect any wrongdoing but he has destroyed their future. He used to take our children to his soccer camp and we were not aware they were being molested. We want the law to take its course.

‘Two of my grandsons have since opened up about the rape incident. They said they feared to report it, because the suspect threatened to kill their mother if they reported this to us. They were too scared to lose their parents,’ she said.

uMkhanyakude Police Cluster spokesperson, Captain Jabulani Mdletshe, said the suspect appeared at KwaMsane Magistrate’s Court on Friday and was remanded in custody for further investigation.

‘He is expected to appear again for a formal bail application next Monday.’

Mdletshe added that another six victims have opened cases of rape against the same suspect.

‘They allege that they were raped by the same suspect but because the incidents were not reported immediately, police have opened an enquiry to verify these allegations.

‘These victims will also be taken to a district surgeon for examination, after which the docket will be taken to the public prosecutor, who will decide whether or not to charge him with rape,’ said Mdletshe.