Charity football tournament held at Sporting Club Thamesmead

The community football tournament and heart health awareness day will take place on May 5 at Sporting Club Thamesmead, to remember former professional footballer Robert Eshun.

Mr Eshun, from Thamesmead, passed away on his way to work in October 2023.

The 48-year-old, who was nicknamed 'Ebo Electric' by his teammates and fans, suffered a cardiac arrest caused by suspected heart failure.

The event in his memory, hosted by the British Society for Heart Failure, in partnership with Meridian Football Club’s charity team and the Peabody Trust, offers free entry to anyone wishing to attend.

The day's proceedings will run from 9.30am to 3.15pm and is open to all ages, with families encouraged to come along.

His fans and friends remember him as 'Ebo Electric' (Image: Matthew Bell)

The football games include two semi-finals and a grand final featuring local community teams.

Attendees will also be able to take part in free blood pressure and pulse checks, and listen to health talks from experts and medical professionals.

Robert’s family said in a statement: "We are hoping people will support the tournament and the charity as it will help raise awareness and better understanding of heart health."

The Meridian football team, which was established more than 20 years ago, encourages sporting activities in multiple deprived neighbourhoods such as Bexley, Erith, Thamesmead, and Greenwich.

Robert was one of their players when he passed away.

They are now a registered charity committed to raising awareness of health conditions affecting black and ethnic minority groups, including heart disease and related conditions such as high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.

Robert represented Ghana at international level for the U-21s team, as well as playing for their national team (Image: Matthew Bell)

The charity event will coincide with heart failure awareness week and help promote the society’s 25in25 campaign - a push to reduce heart failure-related deaths by 25 per cent over the next 25 years.

Among those invited to attend are the Mayor of Greenwich, the MP for Erith and Thamesmead, Shadow Minister (Women's Health and Mental Health) Abena Oppong-Asare, as well as physicians and survivors of heart failure.

Mr Eshun, who represented Ghana at international level for the under-21s squad, as well as playing for the senior Ghana national team, was known for his speed and dribbling skills.

He played alongside renowned footballer Kwasi Appiah and famously scored a goal for his team Asante Kotoko in a cup final in 1990.

For more information, or to make a donation, go to the Meridian Club's Go Fund Me page.