PFA Chief Maheta Backs RMF

The Chief Executive of the PFA (Professional Footballers Association), Maheta Molanga, has given his support to The Russell Martin Foundation (RMF) lauding it as a ‘blueprint’ for former professional footballers looking to set up charitable foundations of their own.

The former player who started his career in Spain with Athletico Madrid before enjoying spells in England with Brighton & Hove Albion, Lincoln City and Oldham Athletic and later becoming Chief Executive of RCC Mallorca, met with Martin recently to find out more about the foundation which employs a number of other ex-professional footballers.

The PFA offers support to players looking to give back to the game and local communities by setting up their own charitable foundations. Other high profile foundations run by ex-professionals and supported by the PFA include The Alan Shearer Foundation and The James Milner Foundation. However, the players union, which supports current and former footballers in the Premier League, the FA Women’s Super League and the English Football League, is keen to forge closer links with RMF to help it develop its services and advice to members.

Molango said: "What Russell has achieved with the Foundation in such a short space of time is phenomenal. It is a great example of a former player giving back to the game and their local community.

“Russell speaks passionately about how the Foundation uses football as a tool to support people, and how it positively impacts wider areas such as health and education. The Foundation has also been hugely successful in giving a number of PFA members an opportunity to develop new careers and skills after retiring from the game.

“On behalf of everyone at the PFA, I would like to congratulate Russell and everyone connected to the Foundation for their outstanding contribution and work.”

Russell Martin, Founder, Russell Martin Foundation added:

“The PFA provides fantastic support for players past and present but in particular helping players when they retire from the game, so it was great to meet Maheta and learn about how they are looking to develop their support for current and former professionals who are keen to go into this area of work.

“Hopefully what we do at RMF can be a model for other ex-pros who are thinking about setting up their own foundations and ultimately, help them deliver long-term and positive impacts on their communities.”

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