Sogndal Players Complain About Coach Pimenta's Treatment of Teammates

A formal written complaint has been lodged against Sogndal Fotball head coach Luis Pimenta, with players expressing concerns over his personal treatment of several team members. The grievance was submitted by the club's captain's team to interim general manager Ingrid Narum.

According to VG, the complaint arose after a player meeting where a significant majority of the squad supported the decision to formally voice their concerns. Sources indicate that players are particularly unhappy with how Daniel Sætren, Ronney Onyango, and Emmanuel Mensah have been treated. None of these players have featured for the first team this season, and Mensah and Onyango have reportedly been denied opportunities to play even for the reserve team.

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We are committed to handling this well. We want players, coaches, and all employees to be treated correctly. Therefore, we depend on getting more concrete information from the player group.

Narum confirmed receipt of the complaint and stated the club is committed to handling the matter appropriately, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for all players and staff. She mentioned that the club needs more specific information from the player group to proceed. Narum also revealed she had not spoken to Pimenta about the complaint before it became public.

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I cannot have a stance or opinion on something I haven't heard from the specific individuals about. I must first hear it from them to understand what it is about. After that, it's no problem to talk about it. I have nothing to hide.

When approached about the matter after Sogndal's recent 1-3 loss, Pimenta stated he could not comment on issues he had not heard directly from the individuals involved. He expressed willingness to discuss the situation once he has all the facts. Pimenta, who joined Sogndal in December 2024, asserted that he does not fear for his job and believes his relationship with the players is "very good."

The players have reportedly consulted with the Norwegian Association of Professional Footballers (NISO) during this process, and sources suggest that the situation has seen some improvement since NISO became involved. Sogndal currently sits 12th in the OBOS-ligaen standings, three points above the relegation zone.

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very good