The World Cup might be coming to the African continent for the first time next year, but one of Toronto FC's most popular players has posed the question: What legacy will it leave for the people after the final whistle in the tournament?
Toronto FC midfielder Rohan Ricketts has encouraged friends, fans and members of Toronto's soccer community to join him in supporting Athletes for Africa's Football for Good initiative.
Ricketts was at Shoeless Joe's bar on King Street in Toronto on Wednesday night to announce his involvement in the Canadian based charity which helps create awareness and support children caught in the crossfire of war-torn African nations.
"Its about helping kids in war-torn countries, giving them opportunities to not just play football but to become leaders," Ricketts said. "I thought this would be a great way to give back because I'm a privileged person -- I get to play the sport I play and make a living at it."
The 26-year-old London native who has played with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Barnsley during his career in England and joined Toronto FC last season, says he wants to use his involvement in the sport of soccer to help others.
Ricketts put his money where his mouth is, pledging to donate $500 for every goal he scores this season to Athletes for Africa and encouraging others for their support. The charity is best known for its annual GuluWalk, a call for peace in northern Uganda and the violent civil war which has raged there for the past 22 years.
"It's really not about the money and it's not a lot to give considering how lucky most of us are who live in North America or my former home of England," he said.
Ricketts noted that during a recent trip to South Africa he was saddened to see the living conditions of so many of the children in that country and then floored when many of them asked him to take them back to Canada with him.
"It is good to be able to let North American children know that so many kids their own age are suffering in that part of the world -- we can all help them and make a difference," Ricketts said.
Athletes for Africa provides the tools for athletes at every level to use sport and exercise as a platform to tell a story to their community and lead by example, and to support a generation of African youth, who are being left behind.
"For anyone who asks me why I am involved I ask them: What did you have to eat for lunch today -- or did you have any lunch? Or better yet have you helped anyone less fortunate in your acts today," Ricketts asked.
"To see young children suffering and to turn a blind eye would be evil. I genuinely want to help them -- I didn't just decide to get involved in a charity but became involved in this project because I really believe in this. I'm hoping the fans and people in attendance see this and want to become involved."
Two-time National Basketball Association MVP Steve Nash -- a well-known avid soccer fan and player -- helped kick off the Football for Good campaign earlier this year in Toronto and Ricketts is the latest to join the initiative lending his support.
"For as long as I've been alive, its been really difficult to find a connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world," said Nash, who is also a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS expansion ownership group. "The one common element that we found between Africa and the rest of the world is really strong football [soccer].
"Instead of continually looking for donations and charity, we want to take an initial capital raise and invest in a social business that is not for profit but all the profits go back to the cause -- in this case, a football academy that would also house the arts, reconciliation, baseline health care and education for kids in the region."
The program was founded in 2004 by Toronto's Adrian Bradbury and Major League Soccer fans can learn more about the initiative by visiting their website: www.AthletesforAfrica.com
Peter Mallett is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
