FOOTBALL4GOOD MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

people is to be informed because it can benefit you or your families’ lives. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE DECADE AHEAD AND HOWARE YOU LOOKING TO GROW THIS CAMPAIGN TO BIGGER THINGS? I am a part of the YEDI Skills Programme which is run now in Lagos and I am hoping to ex- pand every year. I want to keep the awareness relevant and find new ways to spread the word every time. Of course, when we have big tour- naments like the AFCON this past summer, it is a fantastic point to up the campaign and use that platform not just to focus on us but what we can do for the country. The idea is that every year we expand so that’s a good thing to have from Common Goal so they have great ideas they think with me and they help me to choose different projects. Like with The END Fund – I wasn’t aware about the NTDs and, just because they made me aware, that gave me an oppor- tunity to work on that. Hopefully, every year we can expand and let’s see what we can do during my footballing time. HOWDID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN COMMON GOAL AND DECIDE TO JOIN? I read about the initiative, then we got in contact with them. I thought it was a fantastic idea. I think it is, somewhat, the responsibility of us football players to give something back to our communities and for the whole world because we are privileged, that’s why I decided to join Common Goal. I thought that if we united more as football players, then we can have more of an impact. HOWDO YOU SEE THE COMMON GOAL MOVE- MENT EVOLVING IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS? I think it is good to see now that there are more and more players joining, I think that’s the main part to see that Common Goal is growing. We have seen some other football clubs joining which I think is a great initiative as well. Hopefully, it will become something that is second nature in the football world and the more players and clubs that get involved, [the more] it can become something that is globalised and a part of modern day football in the future. WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG BORN: 1 ST SEPTEMBER 1993 INHAARLEM, NETHERLANDS CURRENT CLUB: NIGERIANATIONAL TEAM &UDINESE, ITALY (DEFENDER) Dear Troost Ekong, I am 15 years old student of Majidun Senior Grammar School and I am a football lover. How are you doing? Hope you are doing very well Mr Ekong. I am a participant of YEDI SKILLZ program [partic- ipant] and I joined the Advanced SKILLZ program because I wanted to learn new things about myself and how to make decisions about my health. One thing I have gained from this program was the way my coach was able to handle us even when we almost provoked him, we all later apologized though. I learned that from him, I was happy that I joined. Can I share my dreams with you? When I finish school, I would love to become an accountant and that’s why my best subject is Accounting. I love solving problems [that] have to do with mon- ey, I also love accounting because of my teacher. Although I would love to become an accountant, one of my biggest dream[s] is to be a professional football player, for this reason, I attend football trainings because football makes me happy and keeps me fit. If I had the opportunity to meet you, I would love to tell you that even if I am a Manchester United Club fan, I am your fan, a huge one. I would also like to ask another question. What inspired you to get up and play football all the time? I have another question for you, do you really love playing for Nigeria? If the answer is yes, why? Finally, Mr Ekong, I admire your captain band, it looks good on you. I really wish to meet you one day. Take care of yourself and your family. Yours Sincerely, Nneke Samuel Uchenna. Dear Nneke, Thank you so much for your wonderful letter! I am happy to hear from you and good to hear you are doing well! It’s great you are learning through the Skillz pro- gramme and I hope you are enjoying it too! Carry on chasing your dream and I believe you can make it happen. It’s important you stay committed and work on your understanding of accountancy but I’m sure that will be easy if you like your teacher. That is a great way to give yourself a great foun- dation and security whilst you also follow your dream to be a football player. Sounds like you are a smart young man! I hope football continues to make you happy and you enjoy training and improving! It’s great to hear that you are cheering me on and it’s a privilege everytime I get to wear the green jersey that I represent you and all our fellow Nigerians. It’s something that makes me really proud and makes me happy. I hope we meet sometime soon, and I am looking forward to visiting everyone at YEDI soon. Wishing you all the best and keep going! Yours Sincerely, William 66 67 FOOTBALL4GOODMAGAZINE | MARCH2020 ACONVERSATIONWITHWILLIAMTROOST-EKONG