Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has become the 43rd member of Common Goal, donating one percent of his salary to high impact football-for-good organisations around the world.
Jürgen Griesbeck, Common Goal founder, disclosed in a statement that Troost-Ekong who currently plays for Bursaspor in Turkey, has now joined the likes of Manchester United’s Spain midfielder Juan Mata.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Common Goal is a movement powered by players and managers
Already, 40 players and managers have allocated over 400,000 euros to football-for-good organisations in six months since it started with Mata.
Troost-Ekong’s entry has now made it that at least eight players will likely represent Common Goal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer.
The 24-year-old Ekong has had a busy past few years, leading to his becoming a crucial part of the Nigeria national team.
They went on to win a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and he was nominated for the 2017 African Player of the Year award.
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification group stage, he played every match for the Super Eagles, and he captained the team in their 1-0 friendly victory against Poland on Friday.
“Winning the bronze medal for Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics and qualifying for the World Cup were both massive moments for me,” said Troost-Ekong. “However I’m hoping to outdo both of those this summer at the World Cup.”
Born in the Netherlands in 1993 to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, Troost-Ekong has already played in England, Holland, Belgium, Norway and Turkey.
He considers his commitment to Common Goal as a decisive career moment.
“I’m aware that I’m a role model for children and football fans, and having travelled the world I’ve seen the impact that we have on people’s lives. It’s our responsibility, as players, to use that in a positive way.”
Troost-Ekong’s commitment to Common Goal comes just as the movement prepares to invest funds generated by player pledges for the first time.
Next month will see 400,000 euros allocated to 27 football-for-good organisations tackling some of the toughest social issues of our time — ranging from HIV/AIDS to gender inequality and youth unemployment.
“We are delighted that Troost-Ekong is joining Common Goal. Not just because he is a fantastic player, but because he is a fantastic person,” Griesbeck said. “He and all of our players recognise the importance of aligning with a shared vision and using their status as footballers, to make the world a better place.”
NAN reports that with new players from all levels of football joining the movement every week, Common Goal is racing towards the 100-player mark in 2018.
“In the coming weeks, Common Goal is set to announce how football fans, and other stakeholders in the game, from around the world can participate in the biggest movement in football,’’ Griesbeck added.(NAN)