Chelsea and Everton have united to raise money for a charity that was promoted and supported by the late Christian Atsu.
Atsu played for a host of Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Everton, and Newcastle United among others. The Ghana international tragically died in February aged 31, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria.
Before his death, Atsu had donated and funded several human-impact projects in his native country Ghana including a school for children he had embarked on constructing, with the Arms Around The Child (AATC) charity organisation.
The project was started in 2018 in Senya, Beraku, Ghana and Atsu was the school’s primary benefactor and the organisation’s ambassador.
It is this school that Chelsea and Everton have come together to raise funds for, to see to it that the school is completed. The two clubs are doing this by auctioning the shirts they wore during their Premier League match last month at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who once shared a dressing room with Atsu at Chelsea said; “This initiative allows us to celebrate the life of Christian, an individual who was well-loved within the club and someone we deeply miss.”
“On March 18th we faced another of Christian’s former teams, Everton, and it feels appropriate that we look to build on the fantastic charity work Christian had started with Arms Around The Child to build a new school that will benefit orphaned children in his home country.” Azpilicueta said as quoted by Daily Mail.
Seamus Coleman, the Everton captain also echoed similar sentiments about Atsu.
“Everyone connected with the club was devastated to hear the terrible news about Christian. I remember him fondly from his brief time with us, as a warm, unassuming person whose personality shone brightly.
‘This project to build a new school for orphaned children is a fitting legacy for someone who never forgot his humble roots. Hopefully, the shirt auction will help achieve that aim and Christian’s name will forever be associated with such a worthwhile venture.”
Atsu was survived by a wife and three children.
