UGANDA coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojević claims there is a “well-orchestrated plot” to humiliate him and tarnish his image after he was handed a suspended jail term following his conviction on two counts of sexual assault in the Gqeberha regional court on Tuesday.

A 39-year-old woman, who was delivering coffee in the VIP area at the Wolfson Stadium during a Cosafa tournament in the Eastern Cape city on December 7 last year, accused the former Orlando Pirates and Zambia coach of touching her buttocks and making inappropriate sexual remarks towards her.

On Tuesday, the 52-year-old Serbian coach was convicted as charged and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years.

Sredojević has fired back and said malicious and faceless people are using all means to set him up.

“Let it be known factually that upon my appearance in court for a case that was brought by means of character assassination to my name, I subjected myself to the SA justice system solely because I am a law-abiding person who fully co-operated with the authorities from the very beginning even while I knew I was simply being the target,” he said.

“I knew then that I was innocent of the allegations whose intentions were to cast judgment on my character and I reiterate my innocence even today.

“My belief in the justice system in SA has not been tainted nor has it been shaken. I have lived in Africa and have respected, upheld and mostly embraced it as part of me, and SA is part of the Africa that warmly lives in me as I regard myself as a citizen of this beautiful continent.”

The complainant said she asked Sredojević if he would need sugar as she was delivering coffee in the VIP area.

The coach apparently told her he wanted a different type of sugar while pointing at her genitals.

She complained to her boss who apparently warned the coach not to do it again.

Later that day, while delivering more coffee, Sredojevic is said to have touched the woman’s buttocks.

The court found in favour of the complainant’s version that Sredojevic had made the unwanted sexual advances.

Sredojevic denied the allegations and said he intends to appeal the decision.