Baggies hotshot Brown Ideye helps out at Kick It Out workshop
West Bromwich Albion striker Brown Ideye helped Bristnall Hall Academy students learn about Kick It Out on Tuesday (24 March) as he took part in an anti-discrimination workshop.
The Nigeria international joined a group of 11-14 year-old students from the Academy as they participated in the workshop delivered by Paul Mortimer, Kick It Out’s Professional Players Engagement Manager.
Paul spoke to the students about understanding the different aspects of racism and sexism, challenging the stereotypes and invited them to discuss their own opinions on the topic. Brown sat in on the workshop and listened intently as Paul spoke to the young people from Bristnall.
After the workshop had concluded, Brown was invited to the front of the hall where he was asked a series of questions about discrimination within football and society. The striker spoke openly about how he had been racially abused during a game in Russia.
After the event, Brown, who formerly played for Sochaux and Dynamo Kyiv, stated the importance of educating children on how to tackle discrimination: “I think the best way to tackle discrimination is by talking to children at events like this.
“Whether it’s in primary, secondary schools or college, it is about letting them know that discrimination is something that we can all tackle together. It’s important for Kick It Out to get the message across because a lot of them will want to be professional footballers, so I think they have to know it is not right to abuse anyone.”
Paul praised the Baggies forward for his honesty during the workshop: “The workshop with the students went particularly well and they were no doubt inspired by having a professional player in attendance.
“Brown joined the students and offered his own experiences of discrimination as a lesson to the children on how to behave in society and not just football. It was great having him supporting Kick It Out and our messages of equality and inclusion.”