Former German footballer of Ghanaian descent, Gerald Asamoah, has opened up about the inspiration behind his Gerald Asamoah Foundation and why the foundation chose to provide assistance for people with heart-related issues.
On November 5, 2024, the former Schalke 04 player, in collaboration with Kinderherzen, flew in over 40 specialists from Germany to undertake a charity project in Ghana.
The specialists performed heart surgeries on twenty-seven (27) Ghanaian children at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Gerald Asamoah disclosed that he chose to embark on the mission due to an experience he encountered while playing football.
Gerald Asamoah detailed that while playing football, he suffered a heart condition that compelled him to quit the sport.
He, however, made a promise to God that if he recovered fully from the condition, he was going to dedicate his life to helping others with a similar condition.
“In 1998, when I was playing, I had a situation where after one game I wasn’t feeling so well, so I went to the hospital and I was told that I could no longer play football. As a lover of God, I promised Him that if I made it back to the pitch, I was going to give something back. I came back ten months later and I said, ‘God, you answered my prayers, so I was going to give something back,’” he said.
Gerald Asamoah expressed his heartfelt appreciation to his partners, volunteers, and team members for their dedication and commitment.
He was happy that from humble beginnings, he has built a life where he is able to impact the lives of others.
“I thought it was easy to manage a foundation by just putting money into it, but you need people who will help you. You need committed people, and I have a large team that helps me. I’m really grateful to them. This is like a dream come true for me,” he said.
Reports indicate that the second edition of the project saw the Gerald Asamoah Foundation and partners spend over €250,000 to help over 27 Ghanaian children.
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