Newcastle United football club supporters have started a fundraising campaign in Christian Atsu’s honor in an effort to fulfill the former winger’s wish to build a new school in Ghana.
As it was revealed that the 31-year-old winger for the Magpies and Chelsea had died in the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, tributes poured in from his former clubs.
Newcastle lost 2-0 to Liverpool on Saturday after holding a moment of silence for Atsu. Now, a supporter group called Talk of Tyneside has started a fundraising campaign to support a cause close to Atsu’s heart.
Atsu, a representative of the group Arms Around the Child, assisted in the construction of this new school.
The Talk of Tyneside hosts are urging listeners in Ghana to contribute to finishing the work that he started there. Already, over £600 has been given to the Ghana relief fund.
According to Talk of Tyneside, “Christian Atsu was a well-loved character in Tyneside, and this has been highlighted by the number of tributes provided to him by Newcastle United Football club and its followers.”
“Raising money for a good charity that he worked with feels like the appropriate way to do so,” the club said after his death. “After his loss, we were hoping to find a way to provide supporters an opportunity to show their thanks for his dedication to the club.”
“Christian touched the lives of so many people with his charitable work, and we are determined to keep his memory alive by raising funds to complete the school buildings in Senya Beraku — and help the children he loved so much,” said Ellie Milner of Arms Around The Child.
