By Daily Sports on December 19, 2018

Brighton's Nigeria defender Leon Balogun becomes the first African player in the English Premier League to join Juan Mata’s Common Goal campaign.

Manchester United's Mata wants players to donate at least 1% of their wages to football-related charities.

“I feel we could be doing more to help those who are less fortunate,” Balogun said.

“As football players, we enjoy a high place in society and so we have a very important role to play.”

Balogun’s compatriot William Troost-Ekong, Ghana’s David Accam and Lesotho’s Bokang Mothoana have already joined.

Uganda international Jean Sseninde was the first African and sole female player from the continent to join the Common Goal initiative.

“Joining Common Goal gives me the opportunity to actively help and support people in their communities and open up doors to a better life,” he added.

“This gives me so much joy because as footballers we can do a lot to make social impact around the world.”

The defender, 30, joined Brighton in May, and scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-1 win over rivals Crystal Palace early this month.

Born in Germany, Balogun, who has previously played for Hannover, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Düsseldorf and Mainz, has made 25 appearances for Nigeria.

He played all three matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Mata is raising money for Common Goal, run by the organisation streetfootballworld, after being shocked by the poverty he saw on a visit to Mumbai, India.

The Spaniard is aiming to create a ‘Common Goal starting XI’, made up of 11 players who each donate 1% of their wage to the charity. (BBC)

•Photo shows Nigeria Defender, Leon Balogun

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 19, 2018

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