Arsenal great Ray Parlour has visited one of the most deprived communities in Indonesia to meet young fans being inspired by the club’s football outreach programmes.
In partnership with Save The Children Arsenal have been able to begin a programme in North Jakarta that is designed to give youngsters in the community a safe space to play and encourages teamwork among the boys and girls.
Parlour joined youngsters on the pitch where he was on hand to teach them a few tricks of the Arsenal trade, including how to replicate his legendary goal from the 2002 FA Cup Final win against Chelsea.
Unfortunately the 44-year-old couldn’t quite capture lightening again but it didn’t spoil the day for the young Gooners.
Parlour said: “Football has been such a huge part of my life and given me so many opportunities. Seeing football used like this to make a difference to children’s lives is amazing.
“I met a young boy called Dhani who lives on a bench at the edge of a rubbish dump. He had to drop out of school to work and support his family because his dad is blind. Seeing how he lives and hearing his story has been tough.
“He faces so many daily struggles but football is giving him back a bit of his childhood and putting a smile on his face.
“I’m proud The Arsenal Foundation and Save the Children are getting involved here. We’re using the Arsenal name to give children a better future. It’s brilliant.”
Dhani said: “It feels like a dream come true, now I am part of the team. I love playing football. I want to be a good player, the best I can be, to make my family and friends happy.”
The Arsenal Foundation’s annual charity ball helped fund the project whilst last year’s Legends Game has helped the club to run similar programmes for vulnerable children in Somalia and Jordan as well as closer to home.
Over the past 10 years Arsenal players have donated their match wages from one game a season to fund the Foundation’s work, with the club raising over £250,000 from December’s home game against Stoke.
