Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday June 22, 2011.
The desire to give back to society has led to the establishment of a foundation by Nigerian star John Utaka who currently plays for Montpellier in the French League.
He told Daily Guide exclusively in Accra on Monday that the John Utaka Foundation (JUF) is seeking to provide what he calls “the needed support towards the development of the youth in Africa.”
He said “the youth of Africa are lagging behind in all aspects of development. They have become hopeless and disillusioned but I strongly believe that the time has come for some of us who are fortunate enough to start looking back and support them to have a better future.”
Utaka, 29, had called on Western Publications, publishers of Daily Guide - Ghana’s most read private newspaper, New One, Business Guide and Guide Young Blazers to introduce the foundation which he said belongs to the youth of Africa, to Ghanaians.
He said the JUF which was started in June 2010 would offer scholarship for the education of needy young Africans who exhibit future potential as well as empower the youth by providing work placements on the continent to enable them to gain training and vocational skills through the foundation’s international partners.
“The foundation is committed to the provision of positive activities and support in order to stimulate young people's development through arts, culture and -from film, photography and music as well as other sporting activities particularly football”.
Utaka said helping to reduce poverty through the provision of basic amenities such as water, food and medicine to the vulnerable in society will enable him to contribute towards the reduction of poverty and improvement of health on the continent.
Utaka who has not played for the Super Eagles since Nigeria’s exit at the 2010 World hosted by South Africa, said the foundation will be working in partnership with registered charities to bring hope to the numerous youth on the continent.
He said African governments should continue to pursue democracy, good governance and the rule of law so that, the people, particularly the youth, would get the needed freedom to explore.
He recounted how he started life as a footballer and admitted “it was never easy for me but I persevered to reach the top.
“We had two stones for goalposts and played four against four. Sometimes something sharp would cut your feet, but we played through our wounds, didn’t even think about them. We just loved to play.”
He said his humble beginnings made him to realize the importance of education and how little support can change someone’s life, adding, “The foundation truly represents my belief in helping and empowering the youth of today for a better tomorrow.”
John Chukwudi Utaka was born on January 8, 1982 in Enugu, Nigeria. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for OB in Denmark.
Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, spent a season with Al-Sadd of Qatar, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes, both of France.
Utaka joined Portsmouth on a four-year deal in July 2007, for a fee of around £7,000,000 and May 17, 2008, he won the English FA Cup with Portsmouth.
On January 29, 2011, Utaka signed for French first division side Montpellier, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
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