AMBASSADOR for new social media app Opon, Saints’ Willy Caballero wants to put an end to online abuse, insisting: “We are not talking about just players, we are talking about every single person.”
Opon is an application coming soon that was designed by footballers Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday), Tom Cairney (Fulham) and Daniel Bachmann (Watford).
It is a new network that is attempting to fight social media abuse by ensuring users have to verify their identity before they sign up, eradicating anonymous profiles with no consequence.
The app is also backed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, whom Caballero played with while at the Etihad Stadium.
“I am an ambassador for this app that can help to stop the abuse online,” Caballero told the Daily Echo.
“Every single user has to provide ID for the account, and that’s it, that will help a lot these days.
“This view that every single, we are not talking about just players, we are talking about every single person that is suffering online, hopefully we can do it soon.”
Following the UEFA European Championship final between Italy and England, in which the Three Lions were defeated on penalties after misses by three young players, abuse was arguably at its worst.
Caballero added: “Because you live it a few months ago, but it doesn’t just have to be players, it can be kids at school or any person can be today suffering from abuse online.
“Because of fake accounts or another person that loves to send daft comments, or hate comments. This app can help to stop these kind of things and as I say hopefully we can find a way to do it soon."
Caballero arrived at Saints back in December last year, as emergency cover for the injured Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster.
“Honestly I did not imagine this opportunity but I did imagine other opportunities,” the 40-year-old admitted. “Finding a proper team and showing what I can do.
“To be honest with you, because I couldn’t find a team in the summer when I left Chelsea I didn’t think (there would be) a chance to go to a Premier League team, because I was four or five months a free agent.
“So I was looking for a Championship team or something like that, but maybe, because I didn’t lose a day of training, God gave me this opportunity, this gift. To be here right now is fantastic, after all the time I spent without a team, and I am enjoying every second.”
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