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Jun 05
2009
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Arsenal's Denilson and the Side of Footballers All Too Often IgnoredPosted by MaireOfeire in World Football, Charity, Arsenal |
Nicklas Bendtner falling out of a nightclub at 3 AM in the morning with his jeans around his ankles.
Half the Tottenham team seemingly incapable of finding anyone else to sleep with but Danielle Lloyd.
The flash cars, big houses, lavish lifestyles, swish holidays, continuous nights on the tiles.
So go the stories about footballers that fill space not on the back but front sections of today's tabloids.
Despite what the papers would have you believe, footballers in general are probably good blokes who want to give back to the community.
How come we barely hear in the media about the good work these professionals do? How they give back to the community in which they were raised and those in which they now live.
Each season, Arsenal FC select a charity of choice where they raise funds throughout the given year for a chosen association. The motto states "Be a Gooner, Be a Giver" and fans are encouraged to donate while players and the manager give up both time and money.
Last season (2008-2009) all proceeds raised from charity events, car auctions and players donating a day's wages went to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Furthermore, the players and Arsene Wenger spent a lot of time with the sick children in their ward which no doubt brought them unending joy.
One of those to do so was young midfielder Denilson.
The Brazilian was born in Sao Paulo in 1988. His childhood was spent in extreme poverty and his mother died when he was just 10.
Denilson's father quit life as a footballer to help raise his children and keep them away from a life of drug dealing and crime.
Jose's passion for football and helping others wore off on his son who first signed for Sao Paulo in 2005 before moving to Arsenal a year later.
Aside from those charity events that he attends as part of Arsenal FC, this summer he will travel back to his homeland with Porto forward Hulk to raise money for underprivileged kids.
He wants to give them the chance of seeing there are positives in life and that crime isn't the only answer.
Another ex-player who wants others to learn from his past experiences is Ghanaian Nii Lampety who has opened a school in Accra so children can learn at the very least to read and write.
Only in recent years has Lampety realised that he lost out on money in transfers and signing on fees, as he was unable to read the contract put in front of him. It was only when he moved to Aston Villa he was made aware that he should have had a greater income.
The work being done by Arsenal, Denilson, Hulk and Lampety is only a small drop in a big ocean.
Others that do charity work include:
- Nwankwo Kanu - UNCIEF Ambassador and founder of the Nwankwo Kanu Heart Foundation.
- Ivan Klasnic - Donate an organ, life hat-trick
- Cristiano Ronaldo - Involved in various charity work including AIDS projects.
- Frederic Kanoute - Founder of the Frederic Kanoute Foundation
While many footballers earn an extravagant amount of money, most are only too willing to give something in return.
Photo copyright: Be a Gooner, Be a Giver
Find out more at http://www.beagoonerbeagiver.org/







