Fabrice donates gifts from wellwishers to needy children in his homeland

8:53am Friday 15th March 2013 in Local

MIRACLE man Fabrice Muamba returned to the Reebok Stadium to present hundreds of football shirts to charity.

The shirts were laid at the ground by fans following his cardiac arrest on the pitch in March last year, when Muamba collapsed during the club’s FA Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The shirts will now travel more than 4,000 miles to the retired midfielder’s homeland, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to be donated by CAFOD to vulnerable children and young people who have become separated from their families through poverty and conflict.

In the emotional days and weeks that followed Fabrice’s collapse at White Hart Lane almost a year ago, the sea of football shirts at the Reebok Stadium, placed by supporters of clubs from all over the UK and Europe, became a symbol of hope and goodwill towards the star as the football community united to “Pray for Muamba”.

Muamba said: “I was, and I am still completely overwhelmed by the support that we got from all around the world, we remain deeply grateful for all the love and prayers from everyone.

“It is marvellous that the tributes can go on to do greater good, and I would like to thank CAFOD for their help in making this happen. There are many, young children facing difficult lives and they remain in my thoughts and prayers.”

Club Chaplain, Phil Mason, who supported players and staff through the incident last year helped Muamba pack away the shirts.

He said: “We are really are like a family here at Bolton Wanderers FC and this time last year we were all hit very hard by what happened to Fabrice.

“It made us pull together even closer and the shirts left here by fans from clubs all over the world made us feel like part of an even bigger family.

“It’s in this spirit that the shirts are being sent to children in Africa who love football and I hope that helps them to feel connected to Bolton Wanderers FC and all of the other football fans in the world.”

Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, added: “Quite literally the whole world was praying for Fabrice to pull through.

“It was an amazing experience to see this and Fabrice has embraced this to try to achieve positive outcomes in a number of areas and this is one of them.

“CAFOD must be thanked for their hard work in achieving the distribution of the shirts and their role in supporting those youngsters who have such difficult lives.”

Muamba and Wanderers’ decision to donate the shirts has been praised by the footballing world, such as FA Chairman David Bernstein and Premier League chief wxecutive Richard Scudamore.

Bernard Balibuno, CAFOD’s programme manager in DRC, said: “The gifts coming to us from Fabrice and Bolton Wanderers are a symbol of hope. In DRC we have a proverb ‘The soul sleeps at home and a tree without roots is short-lived’.

“Fabrice Muamba has not forgotten his roots and he is not short living.”

l See tomorrow’s The Bolton News when we look back at Fabrice’s past year and his road to recovery.

Comments (10)

12:31pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Hough64 says...

Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet.
Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet. Hough64

3:45pm Fri 15 Mar 13

boltonnut says...

Hough64 you must have woken up from your winter hibernation welcome back.I think the shirt thing is a good idea,I just hope the AK 47s don't cover up the Wanderers logos and sponsers.
Hough64 you must have woken up from your winter hibernation welcome back.I think the shirt thing is a good idea,I just hope the AK 47s don't cover up the Wanderers logos and sponsers. boltonnut

9:35pm Sun 17 Mar 13

berushka says...

Hough64 wrote:
Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet.
get lost you idiot. I am not sad, not small, or at least I am big enough to plant you in my garden alongside all my other vegetables, but coming from westhoughton, your garden, if you have one, is probably growing old bikes and settees, so you won't know what grass looks like.

quote: 'Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, added: “Quite literally the whole world was praying for Fabrice to pull through.'

Oh no they were not! For one, there is no such thing as a god, so nothing to pray to, and secondly, only read about this geezer's problem when the BN decided that this was the only rubbish they had to fill their pages with, day after day. And they still find things to write about him; are they on a commission?
[quote][p][bold]Hough64[/bold] wrote: Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet.[/p][/quote]get lost you idiot. I am not sad, not small, or at least I am big enough to plant you in my garden alongside all my other vegetables, but coming from westhoughton, your garden, if you have one, is probably growing old bikes and settees, so you won't know what grass looks like. quote: 'Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, added: “Quite literally the whole world was praying for Fabrice to pull through.' Oh no they were not! For one, there is no such thing as a god, so nothing to pray to, and secondly, only read about this geezer's problem when the BN decided that this was the only rubbish they had to fill their pages with, day after day. And they still find things to write about him; are they on a commission? berushka

12:37am Mon 18 Mar 13

Bob Shaftoe says...

berushka wrote:
Hough64 wrote:
Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet.
get lost you idiot. I am not sad, not small, or at least I am big enough to plant you in my garden alongside all my other vegetables, but coming from westhoughton, your garden, if you have one, is probably growing old bikes and settees, so you won't know what grass looks like.

quote: 'Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, added: “Quite literally the whole world was praying for Fabrice to pull through.'

Oh no they were not! For one, there is no such thing as a god, so nothing to pray to, and secondly, only read about this geezer's problem when the BN decided that this was the only rubbish they had to fill their pages with, day after day. And they still find things to write about him; are they on a commission?
Babushka, you are one bitter specimen of east European trash. This site is better off without you. Go for a long walk up your backside in
Transylvania and don't come back,
Take your donkeys and goats with you for company. You're a total cretin.
[quote][p][bold]berushka[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Hough64[/bold] wrote: Am surprised the sad little man Berushka hasnt commented yet.[/p][/quote]get lost you idiot. I am not sad, not small, or at least I am big enough to plant you in my garden alongside all my other vegetables, but coming from westhoughton, your garden, if you have one, is probably growing old bikes and settees, so you won't know what grass looks like. quote: 'Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, added: “Quite literally the whole world was praying for Fabrice to pull through.' Oh no they were not! For one, there is no such thing as a god, so nothing to pray to, and secondly, only read about this geezer's problem when the BN decided that this was the only rubbish they had to fill their pages with, day after day. And they still find things to write about him; are they on a commission?[/p][/quote]Babushka, you are one bitter specimen of east European trash. This site is better off without you. Go for a long walk up your backside in Transylvania and don't come back, Take your donkeys and goats with you for company. You're a total cretin. Bob Shaftoe

9:12am Mon 18 Mar 13

berushka says...

with a name like shafter, it is you who should take the walk as described! And I am more British than you will ever be, you uneducated moron. Transalvania is further away from me than Bolton is, but I know where I would rather be. Bolton sure does produce some low life, and in your case, they threw the wrong bit away when you were found under a dustbin in Farnworth. Go and watch telly and learn how real people, with real lives, live.
with a name like shafter, it is you who should take the walk as described! And I am more British than you will ever be, you uneducated moron. Transalvania is further away from me than Bolton is, but I know where I would rather be. Bolton sure does produce some low life, and in your case, they threw the wrong bit away when you were found under a dustbin in Farnworth. Go and watch telly and learn how real people, with real lives, live. berushka

10:02am Mon 18 Mar 13

Bob Shaftoe says...

For a start It's spelt 'Transylvania' you cretin.

I'm beginning to wonder what drives your constant and hateful tirade against Fabrice Muamba.
Maybe if he had an English sounding name like err...............Gi
bson.
Take your jackboots off and watch some footy!
For a start It's spelt 'Transylvania' you cretin. I'm beginning to wonder what drives your constant and hateful tirade against Fabrice Muamba. Maybe if he had an English sounding name like err...............Gi bson. Take your jackboots off and watch some footy! Bob Shaftoe

3:48pm Tue 19 Mar 13

berushka says...

Bob Shaftoe wrote:
For a start It's spelt 'Transylvania' you cretin.

I'm beginning to wonder what drives your constant and hateful tirade against Fabrice Muamba.
Maybe if he had an English sounding name like err...............Gi

bson.
Take your jackboots off and watch some footy!
your post has been reported, for hacking private computers and using real names. see you in the Police station sunshine
[quote][p][bold]Bob Shaftoe[/bold] wrote: For a start It's spelt 'Transylvania' you cretin. I'm beginning to wonder what drives your constant and hateful tirade against Fabrice Muamba. Maybe if he had an English sounding name like err...............Gi bson. Take your jackboots off and watch some footy![/p][/quote]your post has been reported, for hacking private computers and using real names. see you in the Police station sunshine berushka

3:51pm Tue 19 Mar 13

berushka says...

and if you are curious, read article 12.3 or the terms and conditions, concerning privacy
and if you are curious, read article 12.3 or the terms and conditions, concerning privacy berushka

3:53pm Tue 19 Mar 13

berushka says...

ALL POSTER BEWARE!! the poster calling himself Shaftoe is a computer hacker and uses the private information he gets to send offensive emails, use private information for his own gain and may also be sending viruses. The authorities have been informed and will be taking action as appropriate.
ALL POSTER BEWARE!! the poster calling himself Shaftoe is a computer hacker and uses the private information he gets to send offensive emails, use private information for his own gain and may also be sending viruses. The authorities have been informed and will be taking action as appropriate. berushka

12:34pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Bob Shaftoe says...

Babushka, what a p+llock you are.

Me hacking computers; reporting me to the the moderator.

For everyone's information. Someone used to comment under another name on the letters pages under ??????????????? from The Czech Republic. I merely put 2 +2 together to correctly make 4. You sanctimonious fool.

Oh and the implication of my post still stands
Babushka, what a p+llock you are. Me hacking computers; reporting me to the the moderator. For everyone's information. Someone used to comment under another name on the letters pages under ??????????????? from The Czech Republic. I merely put 2 +2 together to correctly make 4. You sanctimonious fool. Oh and the implication of my post still stands Bob Shaftoe

Comments are closed on this article.

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