Two-time Premier League winner Mikel spoke to SunSport after meeting with amputee footballers
CRUTCHES clatter along the pavement of John Obi Mikel’s back garden as four footballers step onto the patio.
This is not a reunion of injured pros but a meet-up between Chelsea’s former midfielder and a contingent of amputee players.
Chelsea icon John Obi Mikel invited amputee footballers to his Surrey home
They are here for a project Mikel has developed a passion for.
It is six weeks since Nigeria’s amputee team, nicknamed the ‘Special Eagles’, reached out to the two-time Premier League winner for help.
Nigeria were due to miss the Amputee World Cup last month after failing to raise the necessary funds to go to Mexico.
Ghana’s highly-rated team was unable to go to Mexico while England only reached the required £70,000 amount due to a late donation from the Premier League.
Mikel, currently playing for Tianjin TEDA in China, stepped in for Nigeria by helping with financial support.
For the first time in four tournaments, Nigeria went to the World Cup.
“When I had the choice to help the amputee team I didn’t think twice,” Mikel, 31, told SunSport.
“I have friends there from when I was little so I did what I had to do to make sure they got to Mexico and achieved their dreams.”
Mikel grew up down the road from an athletics stadium in the Nigerian city of Jos, where he and his brothers would occasionally play with the amputee team.
Mikel said: “I knew how those guys would spend their days playing football and then having to go to the streets to beg for money.
“They have to survive. Sometimes we would chip in or my mum would make food for them, so I know the amputee players’ struggle.
“I knew other countries were having similar issues as well and when I heard about the Nigerian team I thought we need to raise awareness.”
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