Bukayo Saka pays for 120 children to get hernias and brain tumour operations in Kano

ARSENAL and England winger Bukayo Saka has paid for 120 Nigerian children suffering from hernias and brain tumours  to undergo life-changing surgery under the terms of a deal entered into with the charity Big Shoe.

In a major charitable act, Saka, 21, who is on his way to the World Cup with England, funded the treatment for the kids, who are based in the northern city of Kano. Both of Saka’s parents were raised in Nigeria before moving to London, where the Gunners forward was born in 2001, although he opted to play for England rather than the Super Eagles.

Saka said: “I feel blessed to be in a position where I can contribute to making the children’s lives easier and better through these surgeries. I still feel very connected to Nigeria. For me, it is very important to use my abilities to have a positive impact where I can and I have to say a big thank you to the whole BigShoe team for making this possible.

“For me it is important that every child has the same opportunity to achieve their dreams. If I can do anything to help then I really want to do this, it was very important to me.

“It makes me happy when I can see the kids happy and their parents happy. I want to do more and more and help as many children as I can. This isn’t about me, it is about the 120 children.”

BigShoe are a charity that helps impoverished children get the medical treatment they need but cannot afford. Former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger recently teamed up with the organisation, donating his Germany World Cup bonus to cover surgeries in Sierra Leone, his mother’s home country.