A PREMIER League football star has been chosen as a global ambassador for a sports club founded in Basingstoke.
Former Arsenal star Alex Iwobi, who currently plays his football at Craven Cottage, for Fulham, has been appointed a global ambassador for Rotary Sport International, a sports club recently founded in Basingstoke.
Rotary Sport International, an initiative which aims to "bring young people together using the power of sport, was set up by Dr Tunde Adelakun, who has strong ties to the African football community.
He told the Gazette: "Obviously in my job as a coach of international football over the years, having worked with many of such stars and developed good relations with them, it was a no-brainer for me to pick Alex Iwobi as our first Global Ambassador.
READ MORE: Club with 'big ambitions' for sport in the town holds first meeting
"I know him, not just as a football star but as a human being, a selfless and conscientious one at that, who many of our youth, and adults even, will be able to relate with and learn from over time.
"Our desire is to touch people’s lives with sport, using education and philanthropy. That’s what Rotary Sport is about. Given our commitment to building a sense of community from the youth stage, where everyone in the younger age demographic will understand the need to be selfless to one another while growing, we decided to have a Global Ambassador Program.
"We will get people who our young people can relate with - role models and sports stars - to fly the Rotary Sport flag and help amplify the selfless intent of our organisation. Not just by being a big name in sport, but a big name who has a positive influence on our youth and can identify with what our organisation seeks to achieve in the global space."
The club itself has big ambitions for sport in the town, and discussed a number of ways it could help to improve and even create important facilities which would encourage youngsters to get active during its first meeting which was recently held in the clubhouse at Basingstoke Rugby Club.
For more details, and to get involved in the club, readers can email rotarysport@mail.com
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