Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has won the FIFPRO Player Impact Award for his off-field charity work.
The 28-year-old established the Andre Onana Foundation, providing free medical care and high-quality surgeries to underprivileged communities in Cameroon, and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The foundation collaborates with a group of surgeons and medical professionals who each year provide life-changing surgery and care to hundreds of people, especially children.
Onana said: “When I passed through Barcelona, Amsterdam and Milan on my way to Manchester United, I had people who helped me on that journey.
“When I was down, they gave me a hand so that I could stand up. I’ve never forgotten the help I received. Because of the people in the past who supported me, I feel I have a responsibility to give back and help others.
“We bring doctors and surgeons, mostly from Spain, to perform the procedures in Africa. In July this year, we had our fourth surgical campaign where a delegation of Spanish health professionals – from nurses to paediatric surgeons – helped over 350 people in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital.”
FIFPRO will donate $10,000 to the Andre Onana Foundation to further support their work.
