By IANS
Kozhikode : A Belgian football coach has decided to quit as honorary coach with a sports organisation here following reports that he was allegedly involved in a paedophile case in his country.
Jozef Achtergael, 57, who coached children at the Sports and Educational Promotion Trust (SEPT) here, has informed the sports trust that he is quitting, T.M. Abdurahman of SEPT told IANS Tuesday evening.
The SEPT had quizzed Achtergael on the charges following a news report last week.
Abdurahman said: “It was a shock to all of us when the news report appeared. When we asked him, we were told that the incident had occurred 24 years back.”
“He was also shocked and said he will leave the post of honorary coach. He has been with us since 2004 and his efforts in training the children have done a world of good. We have around 150 kids and his behaviour was exemplary all these years,” said Abdurahman.
Achtergael comes to Indian once every six months and spends about two weeks and does not charge any money for his professional service, he said.
“We only pay for his stay here,” added Abdurahman.
SEPT is a trust and conducts football lessons for children under 10 thrice a week in the evening.