In August 1988, during a football World Cup qualification match between Nigeria and Angola being played in Lagos Nigeria, there was sudden commotion on the field. A player had gone down, and all thought it was an injury although there was no contact when he went down.
That player was Sam Okwaraji; fit, able bodied player who played his football on the books of German club Vfb Stuttgart.
He had a cardiac arrest and died on the pitch while playing for his country.
This was not the first, but it brought awareness to the issue.
He was attended to, taken off and the game continued. News filtered out within hours that the player actually died, of cardiac failure on the field of play.
Highlighted further in June 2003 during the FIFA Confederations Cup in France; in the semi final match between Cameroon and Colombia. Marc-Vivien Foe, former player of Manchester City, West Ham United and of course of Cameroon slumped during the game and was pronounced dead shortly after. Another one lost to cardiac arrest while playing football.
Football has lost many since then. Supposedly fit players who left their houses fit, and never returned – collapsed on the field and died of cardiac arrest.
Ivory Coast’s ex Newcastle United star Cheikh Tiote comes to mind.
The Football Hearts Foundation has been established to create awareness towards the menace of heart related diseases amongst our sports heroes.
To bring consciousness to many who might not have been aware of the fact that they have or are developing heart related conditions. To show our care for the present and the past crop of sports persons and guide their lifestyle choices that can have an effect on the wellness of their hearts. To educate the sports fraternity on issues relating to heart and blood pressure matters.
In short, the Football Hearts Foundation is an organisation that shows a heart for all hearts in sports
OUR OBJECTIVES
-To encourage close and frequent monitoring of blood pressure and heart conditions of our sports stars, coaches and administrators
-To educate and enlighten our retiring and retired sports stars on lifestyle choices post retirement in a way that will keep a close eye on their vital health signs.
-To encourage and empower a culture of self help in checking and monitoring a trend of oneself in the area of blood pressure, heart rate monitoring and keep fit wellbeing activities at all times.
OUR 2024/25 TARGET
-To deliver 1,000 blood pressure monitoring HomeKits to individual beneficiaries - football players, athletes, coaches present and past and administrators in Africa
-To deliver 250 defibrillators to sports facilities, sports clubs, university sports associations in various countries in Africa
-To provide 10 Football Heart Foundation workshops in various parts of Africa to sports stars past and present, discussing and delivering lectures on lifestyle choices, diet and exercise for people who were in sport and are no longer in it.
-To deliver 1,000 KardioMaster ECG home heart rate monitor devices to individuals and in sports clubs and schools in countries in Africa
TARGET FOCUSED COUNTRIES
Benin
Morocco
Rwanda
South Africa
OUR APPEAL
We are looking to raise £1 million to execute this project in these four countries. A million pounds that will change many lives, save many and educate many on preserving their hearts and prolonging their lives.
To make a donation, find out more or seek to belong, please contact