Kanu touches young Nyambura’s heart in KNH visit

Retired Nigeria and Arsenal legend, Nwankwo Kanu urged Kenyan football greats to find ways of giving back to the society.

Speaking to Citizen TV’s Monday Football, Kanu who is on a five-day trip to Kenya as a brand ambassador of StarTimes says it is the only way people who adore them will benefit from their success in the game.

‘’It’s Very important because people see footballers as people who drive big cars, go to parties. So we are trying to change that and we want to make sure that everybody plays a role because when you are out there you have many followers.

“You don’t have to be important by looking after yourself, it’s always good to spread it out to others to benefit from where you are,” the former Nigeria captain

Kanu established the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), to help children in Nigeria and other African countries obtain heart surgeries and cardiac treatment they need.

KHF has supported over 415 heart surgeries with an impressive 98.5 percent success rate and on Monday, he visited the cardiac patients at Kenyatta National Hospital where he interacted with among others, Joy Nyambura who is seven years-old.

Nyambura is being treated for a growth in her heart with the former Inter Milan, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth player promising to use his foundation to mobilise funds to support cardiac services at KNH through football.

“As KHF we shall do our bit but with the likes of Victor Wanyama playing for Southampton, we can do a lot together to help our people who are suffering in this hospital,” he said at the hospital.

“I will be the first one to play in such a match and can bring along other like-minded current or former players to support this cause. We have to put pressure on ourselves to do well and support, while the media has a responsibility to ensure that the word gets out there,” he added in a statement sent to newsrooms after his visit.

The former Arsenal forward voted by the club’s fans as the 13th best player of all time at the North London giants began raising funds for a Cardiac Center to be built in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja in 2013.

In 2014 Kanu underwent a second corrective heart surgery and while in the hospital he was named one of the 100 most important Nigerians at the Centenary Award Ceremony hosted by former country’s President, Goodluck Jonathan.

After helping Nigeria win Olympics gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Kanu joined Inter where he was diagnosed with heart disease that required replacement of his aortic valve, limiting his time with the Milan giants to 12 games and a single goal.

In 2014, the charity known as the Borgen Project named Kanu the third most philanthropic soccer player in the world  after the UK’s David Beckham and Cote d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba.

“’Every successful person is lucky to be where they are. It’s very important not to forget where you are coming from, so what am doing is to put more pressure on the legends to give back to the society.”

Report by John Kyanda and Geoffrey Mwamburi