Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s winger, has expressed confidence that the Gunners will perform better next season and compete favourably in all competitions despite failing to secure a silverware in the outgoing season. Saka also believes that with the progress made under Mikel Arteta’s leadership, the team will thrive in the 2021-2022 season.
In an exclusive interview with Sports Extra on Saturday in Lagos, the England star said, “We’ve made tremendous progress in the last two seasons, and yes, we are back in the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League will be there too and other competitions, so we’d be ready.”
Saka, who is on vacation in Nigeria, shared that the major reason for his visit is to inspire young Nigerian kids to stardom. The 21-year-old star visited the Bales of Mercy Orphanage, which is set up to care for the needs of abandoned and destitute children around Lagos, and donated items to the orphanage. He also paid a visit to the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Lagos.
According to Sunday Punch, Saka funded the operations of 120 kids in Kano State in conjunction with youth charity BigShoe in November 2022, and he plans to explore other ways to help more kids. Speaking with the newspaper, the former Hale academy player revealed that “That’s the reason I came here, and I really want to be an inspiration for all kids. We’ve been doing a lot before now and we are exploring ways to make it deeper.”
Saka, who hails from Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, also revealed his connection to his hometown and love for pounded yam and egusi soup, saying “Despite being in England, I still eat the foods from here (pounded yam and egusi soup). It feels good to be here; I feel safe and happy to be back here.”
In furtherance of his mission to inspire young Nigerian kids, Saka took time out from the prying eyes of football fans to visit the streets of Somolu, Lagos, after arriving in Nigeria on Wednesday. With his visit, Saka has shown that he is not only a talented footballer but also a passionate humanitarian.
