Super Eagles captain William Troost Ekong was given a hero’s welcome in Lagos on Friday as fans swarmed Palms Mall in Lekki to catch a glimpse of their football idol. The Nigeria defender held a meet and greet session at the Puma store as part of activities leading up to his charity football match happening this Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan.
Fans young and old trooped in early to snap photos, get autographs and share moments with the international star. The event was also a thank you gesture to Puma, a major sponsor of the charity project. Ekong praised the sports brand for standing by him and his team even before the charity initiative gained public attention.
“This meet and greet was a way to appreciate our fans and one of our biggest supporters, Puma,” Ekong said after the event. “They believed in us before we had anything to show. I feel like family here. I came with my kids and my wife and I’m excited they’ll be at the stadium on Sunday too.”
The ex Watford and Udinese defender revealed that organizing the event took months of planning behind the scenes. He thanked his team and the BFA staff for their commitment since January. He noted that while most people only heard about the match recently, the real effort had been ongoing for half a year.
“It wasn’t easy getting people to believe in this project at the beginning. But now, everybody wants to be involved,” Ekong said. “I get messages every day from brands and players saying they want to join. We’ve proven we can deliver, and we’ll keep doing more.”
Sunday’s charity match, tagged #PlayForPurpose, will feature big names from sports and entertainment. Boxing champion Anthony Joshua, Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo, and ex internationals Obafemi Martins and Vincent Enyeama are expected to light up the pitch. Music stars Flavour, Falz and ODUMODUBLVCK will also be in action.
The first edition of the match held last year in Uyo was a huge success. This Lagos edition promises to be even bigger, with proceeds going to support underprivileged children through the William Troost Ekong Foundation.
