In a bid to help the Nigeria Amputee Football team to the Mexico 2018 World Amputee Football World Cup, Nigeria born Arsenal Amputee FC star, Michael Ishiguzo, has launched an appeal on global fundraising platform, GoFundMe.
The former Stationery Stores FC of Lagos player who took to para athletics and amputee football after he lost his limb explained the initiative became necessary to support his colleagues back home to access the opportunities at the world stage, to help them achieve their dreams of finding a career in professional amputee sports.
“I was part of the amputee football family in Nigeria before I got the opportunity of coming to England where I now play for Arsenal Amputees. That was how I escaped the street. I know what they suffer back home but it is especially disheartening that they have missed three editions of the Amputee World Cup due to lack of funds after they worked so hard to qualify. It is painful that, in Nigeria, they don’t have the attention nor support of government and the corporate institutions. They shouldn’t be treated like orphans. However, while we continue to appeal to government and the corporate community to understand the importance of supporting physically challenged people to find a sense of belonging in the society, the GoFundMe initiative is my own little way of supporting them and I appeal to Nigerians and the world community to support us.
“I am aware that the amputees have also launched a jersey sales in which to get a percentage of the sales towards generating the required funds. So, the public can either donate directly or purchase the jerseys as a way of supporting them.
“I opened the FundMe account in London because Nigeria is not supported on the platform, but I made clear that the fund is for the Nigeria Amputee Team. I did so also in consultation with the President of the Amputee Federation and Mr Fred Edoreh, former chairman of Lagos sports journalists who was a support for me in my trying times in Nigeria and has amazingly continued to identify with the amputee family. The campaign platform identified as Nigeria Amputee Football Team is open for the public join and monitor the growth of the fund until it is transferred to the team. The most important thing is for us all to support the process and help the players achieve their dreams of playing in the World Cup and possibly migrating to professional amputee footballing like some of us have.”
The Amputee Football World Cup holds in Mexico between October 24 and November 5 with Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Angola representing Africa. Nigeria is grouped with Russia, Brazil and El Salvador in the first round.
