Kanu: Saving 542 lives more important than winning trophies

Super Eagles legend Kanu Nwankwo says his heart foundation has saved 542 lives since inception in 2000.

The former Arsenal star told Guardian UK that it’s an achievement bigger than football.

“We have saved 542. As a footballer, you win trophies and it’s good. But this is so much more,” Kanu said.

“But we keep doing it. This week four patients went to Sudan and we’re hearing that the operations were successful and another six are about to leave as well.

“We have partnered with hospitals, we do check-ups, we talk to the parents, we educate them and at the same time we take the kids to other countries for operations.

“The goal of the foundation is to build our own cardiac hospitals in Africa, starting in Nigeria. It would make it all much easier.”

He said the Kanu Heart Foundation story began with a little girl, Eniton, who was within an inch of death.

“We had to pick her up and run to the hospital. Thank God she didn’t die,” the former Monaco striker said.

Kanu said Eniton’s mother tracked him down to the Super Eagles’ hotel while preparing for an African Cup of Nations match.

He recounted: “The mum wanted to show me the girl for me to help.

“When she saw me at the hotel, she was shouting and suddenly the girl fainted. Later on at the hospital I promised the mum that the first kid we were going to operate on would be her daughter.

“For a little girl of that age – not playing, no energy in her, not moving around; she doesn’t smile, the eyes are blue. They are really suffering, in a really bad situation, and you ask yourself: ‘If nobody comes in to help and they die …’

“But after all of the children had their operations, I went to visit them and they were full of smiles, jumping and playing with me, rolling around with me and when you looked at the mums, you saw the happiness. From that day, I said: ‘This is something that we have to do more and do more.’”

Kanu was diagnosed with a serious heart condition at age 20 shortly after winning an Olympic gold medal in 1996.

In spite of his medical condition, he went on to have a remarkable football career.

The experience, he said, inspired him to establish the foundation to help people with heart problems.