Alf’s on right root
RANGERS STRIKER GIVES COLOMBIAN KIDS A BETTER LIFE
RANGERS star Alfredo Morelos has made it his mission to help his home town in Colombia and is giving poor children a chance at a better life through his charity foundation.
He might often be a wild card on the pitch but this is one big-money footballer who hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
Ibrox favourite uses charity foundation to stage football match and hand out toys and food to vulnerable youngsters in his hometown
ALFREDO Morelos suffered a tragic childhood following the death of his little sister when he was just 13 years old.
But the Rangers striker has made it his mission to give kids in his poverty-stricken Colombian hometown a better life.
For youngsters growing up in the Bovaten area of Cerete municipality, there was little Christmas cheer over the festive period.
Families struggle to make ends meet but Alfredo has helped bring joy to their lives through his charity foundation.
The Ibrox star, who has spoken previously of his grief after his younger sibling died at the age of six, recently returned to South America where he staged a friendly charity match.
Fellow Colombian players took part with 7000 fans turning out to watch, while food from 300 markets was handed out to those most in need.
As the son of a fruit salesman father and housewife mother, Alfredo has tried to provide for his family after growing up in crime-ridden Botaven, in the Cordoba region of northern Colombia, which is the fourth poorest area in country.
Karina Ruiz Beleno, a journalist for Colombian newspaper El Meridiano in the city of Monteria, is community manager of the Alfredo Morelos Foundation. She agrees with Rangers boss Steven Gerrard’s recent claim that the 23-year-old is misunderstood due to his fiery temper and poor disciplinary record on the field for the Ibrox club.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Karina said: “Alfredo has been giving toys to children for two years at Christmas. It is something very beautiful because some parents sometimes have no money to buy gifts for their children and this gesture by Alfie is reflected in the smile of the children.
“Alfredo is an example of overcoming adversity and wants to be a motivation for the little ones. That is why he saw the importance of opening a foundation that helps the most vulnerable population. “The Alfredo Morelos Foundation is located in the municipality of Cerete, where Alfredo is from. The foundation seeks to help low-income children to get ahead and fulfil their dreams, turn them into agents of change to help their community and keep them from the bad roads that are harming young people.
“Botaven is known now more for Alfredo, all its neighbours are watching him, his matches with Rangers and the Colombian national team.
He wants to be a motivation for the little ones.
KARINA RUIZ BELENO ON ALFREDO’S EFFORTS
“Alfredo is a humble person, who always has his family in mind since they did everything possible to make him a great player today.”
Karina added: “On December 30, the first event of the foundation was held, which was a friendly match between the Soccer Stars v Friends of Alfredo where players such as Wilson Morelo, Miguel Angel Borja, Duvan Vergara, Frank Fabra, among others were at the Alberto Stadium Saibis Saker de Cerete.
“No money was raised but food was delivered in the El Totumo, El Oriente, Villa Celina, Playa Rica, Botaven and Las Marcelitas regions.
“About 300 markets provided food that were delivered by Alfredo and his wife Yesenia. The event was a total success and is expected to be repeated in the coming years.
“The foundation will work on
cultural, artistic and sports issues. I got involved because of the friendship I have with Alfredo and I am very happy to work on this beautiful project that will benefit the most disadvantaged.
“Alfredo from a young age promised his parents that he would fight for them to give them a better quality of life. ‘The Buffalo’ comes from a humble family.
“His father sold fruits in the market and his mother has always been a housewife. They gave him all the support since his beginnings in football with the Los Fumigadores school, struggled tirelessly to provide their son with what he needed to play and demonstrate his scoring streak.
“The death of his sister affected him a lot and she is always in his memory. He has suffered because his path has been very hard but today he sees the fruits of so much sacrifice.”
Alfredo has earned the reputation as a controversial character since arriving in Scotland from Finnish club HJK Helsinki in 2017. Rangers claimed last month that he was subjected to racial abuse after being sent off in the Old Firm derby at Parkhead. Gerrard said during the club’s winter break in Dubai that rivals are trying to “kill” his Rangers career.
Alfredo and his wife Yesenia are expecting their first child and Karina said:
“Alfredo has told me that Scotland is wonderful and when he was presented with the opportunity to go to Rangers he did not hesitate.”
She added: “I am aware of reputation in Scotland because of his disciplinary issues but Alfredo is working on that, he is a young man who learns from his mistakes.
“It is also important to mention that some people insult him for his skin colour. In Scotland there is still racism and part of his disciplinary problem is because of that topic.
“But Alfredo says that the Rangers fans love him very much, that children appreciate him and how much he has struggled to win the love of Rangers fans.
“He is excited for the arrival of his first baby, his wife is very happy for the new member who will soon arrive in the family, his parents and sister are also happy for the arrival of a ‘bufalito’.
“The people of Botaven are happy for everything he is doing with Rangers, for the love he receives from the fans, for his goals and for the call to the Colombian national team.”