Leon Balogun joins Juan Mata’s Common Goal campaign

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Dec 19, 2018. 10:05

Brighton’s Nigerian defender to donate 1% of his wages.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Nigerian international defender Leon Balogun has become the first African player in the Premier League to join Juan Mata’s Common Goal campaign.

Manchester United midfielder Mata has called on his fellow professionals to donate just one percent of their wages to football-related charities.

The Spaniard is raising money for Common Goal, run by the organisation streetfootballworld, after being shocked by the poverty he saw on a visit to Mumbai, India.

"I feel we could be doing more to help those who are less fortunate," Balogun said.

"As football players, we enjoy a high place in society and so we have a very important role to play."

Balogun's compatriot William Troost-Ekong, Ghana's David Accam and Lesotho's Bokang Mothoana have already joined.

Uganda international Jean Sseninde was the first African and sole female player from the continent to join the Common Goal initiative.

"Joining Common Goal gives me the opportunity to actively help and support people in their communities and open up doors to a better life," Balogun added.

"This gives me so much joy because as footballers we can do a lot to make social impact around the world."

The German-born Balogun, who represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, recently scored his first goal for Brighton in a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.