Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Leyton Orient goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux met during the Chelsea's celebration to mark the Black History. Both keepers talked on racism and the lack of back goalies in English football.
Vigouroux started the conversation with the racial abuse he suffered after a match at Port Vale of recent. Though the offender was found and punished, Vigouroux asked Mendy if he had ever faced any racial abuse.
According to Chelsea official website Mendy is quoted, "It has happened to me many times,’ our goalkeeper said.
"I try to stay focused on my football, my game, but even in social media it’s difficult. You cannot see who writes to you. For us it’s really difficult to deal with that.
‘We just have to talk. We don’t have to let them do what they do. We have to report this kind of abuse.’
‘Especially with the position we play we can hear that people are saying as well,’ added Vigouroux.
‘You’re right when you say we need to report it and stay strong, and have tunnel vision, and focus on yourself, "‘It has happened to me many times,’ our goalkeeper said.
‘I try to stay focused on my football, my game, but even in social media it’s difficult. You cannot see who writes to you. For us it’s really difficult to deal with that.
‘We just have to talk. We don’t have to let them do what they do. We have to report this kind of abuse.’
‘Especially with the position we play we can hear that people are saying as well,’ added Vigouroux.
‘You’re right when you say we need to report it and stay strong, and have tunnel vision, and focus on yourself."
Vigouroux also explains how important Mendy's rise to prominence is to the motivation of black goalies.
"In the league I play in, there are not many black goalkeepers,’ said Vigouroux. ‘Maybe six or seven in 24 teams. It’s even less in the Premier League.
‘I just wanted to say from me, to see what you’re doing is very inspirational. We see you winning the Champions League and we can look to you as a reference point, to try and be more like you, and play more like you, and black out there are a lot of black goalkeepers who don’t play.
A lot of kids when they are young, they don’t want to play in goal, especially young black kids, so it’s very inspirational what you’re doing and we hope you continue".
Meanwhile Edouard Mendy have been an unused substitute for Chelsea since coming back from injury, Kepa Arizabalaga have been preferred by Graham Potter, the new Chelsea manager. Hope he can can regain his confidence and claim his spot between the sticks.
Photo Credits: Chelsea FC
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