Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali became the latest player that participated in the ‘Play with Compassion’ charity theme of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) anchored on the VAT Wonder Goal award.
Winners of the VAT Wonder Goal which is supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) nominate and visit charity organizations which receive half of the N150, 000 prize money attached to the award.
In recent months, duo of Rivers United’s Ayo Saka and Emeka Ogbuh, Ubong Friday of Akwa United, Pascal Seka of FC IfeanyiUbah, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu of Enyimba and Usman Ahmed of Wikki Tourists took turns to visit charity homes, mainly Orphanages in their respective states following their emergence as VAT Wonder Goal winners. The reception has been as overwhelming to the inmates as it has been emotionally touching to the players. Many other players are on line to make similar visits
Ali, who won the award for Match Day 26 was an instant hit with kids at the Nasarawa Orphanage run by the Kano State government, played around with them and asked some of them their preferred sport. To his surprise, nearly all of them did not only express a preference for football, they did recognize him instantly and spoke of how they would love to play like him.