Main fundraiser photo

Goodluck and the Nigeria amputees

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These are my friends in the Nigerian National Amputee Football Team.

For these guys, football (soccer) is more than a game — it’s a lifeline. Being part of this team provides these amputees with community, inspiration and purpose. The difficulties they face as people and athletes with disabilities in Nigeria are staggering.

This is the situation:
-- This team, despite representing the Nigerian nation, has no official support
-- It has lost access to a decent training ground and now have to make do with a pitch filled with potholes and water
-- Many of the players can’t afford bus fare to get to training, or the water they need to drink when playing
-- The team captain just broke his one leg, and is unable to work to support his wife and four kids
-- Eating a proper meal every day is something most of the players can’t afford

In spite of all that, these men, ranging in age from 18 to 45, burn with passion for the game and continue to pursue their dream of competing. Every opportunity to play is a victory for them. They’ve been a huge inspiration to me and I want to do everything I can to help them continue to play and be able to compete in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana this fall.

With your GoFundMe support, we will be able to pay for operational expenses for the team of 20 players for a whole year (starting June 1, 2017). This includes:
-- A graded and refurbished training pitch
-- Rental of changing room (with shower) and storage space
-- New equipment, including crutches, balls, shoes and bibs.
-- A monthly stipend for each player and the two coaches to contribute to food and transportation costs
-- A regular water supply and medical kit

We also want to help team captain Goodluck Obieze with his medical bills and make sure he gets back on the pitch. While his leg is healing, he’s not able to drive his moto taxi, his only source of income. He still has payments to make on this vehicle. With your support, we will be able to meet those payments and make sure he gets to keep his taxi.

You have my commitment that I will do everything I can to make sure your money is put to its maximum use. I’ve partnered with my friend and journalist colleague Toyosi Oyetunji, who will be coordinating business and media affairs on the ground. Together with Coach Gbenga Dosunmu and his team, we will stretch every naira as far as it can possibly go. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to follow and film these players to tell their extraordinary story.

You can help tell it, too! If you like the video story I made (above), share it and spread the word! Share the Facebook post that I wrote, from which the idea for the GoFundMe campaign was born:
https://www.facebook.com/stefan.lovgren.52/posts/10155912685592656
And if you have any questions or if you have ideas for how you can help, please let me know. Together we’ll be able to do extraordinary things!

This is just the beginning ...
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Donations 

  • Ingowari Erenyanate
    • $10 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Stefan Lovgren
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY

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