Best of Africa: Chris Hughton and Christian Atsu pick up top awards

Newcastle's Christian Atsu and former NUFC boss Chris Hughton have been given top awards at Best of Africa celebration.

Monday night’s Best of Africa awards have seen both Christian Atsu and former Newcastle Manager, Chris Hughton, honoured.

The Best of Africa awards is a celebration of the charity work of Premier League footballers of African heritage.

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah was named Player of the Year, whilst Manchester City’s Yaya Touré won the Outstanding Career award, and Brighton’s Chris Hughton the Outstanding Management accolade.

Newcastle’s Christian Atsu was honoured with the Philanthropic Endeavour Advocacy award for his Arms Around The Child campaigning, this is a charity which provides homes, education and care for vulnerable children in Africa.

Christian Atsu:

“I am honoured and very happy to receive this award.”

Chris Hughton:

“I have been involved with Best of Africa since its inception and am forever impressed by the continuing growth of this movement that celebrates the compassion and philanthropy of sports stars of African heritage.

“I am honoured to have received the Outstanding Achievement award, but I have really just been doing my job.

“So many of the people that surround us tonight do so much work campaigning for better living conditions and creating safe environments for some of Africa’s most vulnerable citizens, it’s a privilege to be part of a celebration of this.

“Best of Africa puts philanthropy at the forefront of the agenda and highlights some fantastic work, it’s a movement that should be championed and it fills me with pleasure to see the awards going from strength to strength every year.”

Best of Africa founder, Francis Nkwain;

“Last [Monday] night was a celebration of the great work undertaken by Premier League footballers of African heritage in the UK. Many people are not aware of the lengths these players go to off the pitch to enhance the lives of the communities that raised them.

“To have H.E. Amina Mohammed supporting last night’s Best of Africa awards was a huge honour. Her work with the Unital Nations is an inspiration to us all but most importantly as Africans we celebrate the Leadership our mothers and Sisters are providing for the continent.

“Championing the philanthropic endeavours of people like Amina, Christian and Mohamed, and all of the Best of Africa award nominees and winners is our responsibility and our pleasure.

“We were honoured to have so many Premier League players attend the awards and are proud of everything they have achieved. We look forward to growing the Best of Africa family and are excited to start planning next year’s celebrations!”