It was a proud moment for the friends and family of Pierre Bolangi on Saturday when Keenan Gough made his Championship debut as an 89th minute substitute as the Addicks beat Oxford United at The Valley.
Gough was the recipient of the Pierre Bolangi Award in 2022/23.
The award is given each year to a Charlton U18s player who has demonstrated Pierre's characteristics of resilience, leadership, optimism and compassion.
On August 9th, 2000, Pierre, a promising 17-year-old left-back was part of the club’s U18s’ pre-season training camp in Aldershot when he got into difficulty and drowned during an army training exercise.
In recent years, close friends and family members have set up 3P3 The Legacy to remember Pierre and to create opportunities for young people in the Canning Town area, where Pierre was from, and further afield. The award in Pierre's name has been handed out annually since 2022.
Pierre’s friend Rob Lawrence, who was a founding member of 3P3 The Legacy, said: “3P3 congratulates Keenan Gough on making his Championship debut. A Pierre Bolangi Award winner in 2022/23, Keenan’s journey is a powerful example of the legacy in action. We’re proud of him and excited to see what’s next.”
Speaking this week Gough was informed of the words of Rob and, reflecting on winning the award, said: “It was really nice for me to get that recognition because the award was about personality and the type of character that Pierre was. It was a privilege to win that award because there was a lot of legacy held behind it. It’s nice to hear that they [Pierre's friends and family] are saying that. I was proud when I won that because it has good meaning behind it.”
For more information and to donate to 3P3 The Legacy visit 3P3TheLegacy.org and follow 3P3TheLegacy on Instagram and TikTok.
Pierre Bolangi Award winners:
- 2021/22: Seydil Toure
- 2022/23: Keenan Gough
- 2023/24: Mason Hunter
- 2024/25: Phoenix Valentine and Marley Rayment-Dawkins
The Addicks are back at The Valley on New Year’s Day for the visit of Coventry City. Click here to purchase your tickets now!
