- Safiu Kehinde
Jerry Yamlak’s dream of playing professional football in Europe is fast becoming a nightmare as the stranded 17-year-old Nigerian cries for help while narrating ordeal in the hand of a fraudulent Serbian football agent.
A physically assaulted Yamlak with bloodied mouth was seen in a video shared on X by popular Nigerian social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan).
As narrated by VDM, Yamlak was spotted by a scout while playing football in Taraba state.
The scout, who promised to sponsor his football career, linked him up with the Serbian-based football agent identified as Ivan Trajkovic.
The foreign agent, however, insisted on Yamlak coming to Serbia before he could help him get a club.
Several days after his arrival, Ivan failed to get Yamlak a club as he was considered under age.
Ivan, however, kept collecting £1500 monthly from Yamlak’s sponsor without getting him a club.
With his three-month visa expired, Yamlak would be subjected to physical assault after challenging the football agent for deceiving Nigerians that he has helped him got a club.
Upset with Yamlak’s challenge, Ivan allegedly assaulted him with fork and chair resulting.
Meanwhile, VDM vowed to report Ivan to Serbian embassy as he described the incident as disturbing.
“That video was truly painful to watch and it’s just very sad because a lot of Africans go through this in the hand of foreigners.
“This video in particular is more painful because this boy is underage. He is just only 17-year-old. He was born on the 8th of October 2007.
“To think an adult can do that to him is not fair. The first thing I will do today is to take the video straight to Serbian embassy. And something must be done.
“That boy must get justice because I have never seen it anywhere where a Nigerian will treat foreigner like this.
“We don’t do it here. We respect everybody. Because if this was the other way round, we will not even here the last of it. We will not take this at all.” VDM said.