At only 21 years of age, Bukayo Saka has already played for Arsenal’s senior team for five seasons, has been capped 22 times for England and won two trophies in the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
He has also been named his club’s player of the season for two years in a row and England Men’s player of the year in 2021-22.
In the ongoing world cup in Qatar, Saka has already opened his account, scoring twice in the 6-2 win against Iran.
Safe to say, Saka has achieved more than what many players achieve in a whole career. And he is only starting off.
To commemorate this, the school where Saka studied unveiled a mural of the footballer.
Saka studied at Edward Betham Church of England primary school, a small school in Greenford England. Upon request, Darek Urlewic, whose own child goes to the same school, was happy to put his street artist skills to use and create the mural for the footballer.
The mural comes as a direct result of Myla Clarke-Williams’s request, a student aged 9.
She was impressed with the manner in which Saka handled social media abuse following the Euro 2020 finals, where a penalty miss meant he was subjected to racial abuse and hatred.
The request was accepted by the school and a mural was subsequently made as a tribute.
Peter Mason, Councillor of Ealing said, “Just a few short years ago, Bukayo Saka was a pupil at Edward Betham, playing football here, on the Brentside Playing Fields and then on the pitches at Greenford High.
“His is a remarkable story of talent and achievement that everyone can take hope, inspiration and encouragement from. And I feel sure that everyone at his former schools and across Ealing shares an incredible sense of pride in his achievements.”
“The intolerant and racist abuse that he and other members of the England squad faced was totally unacceptable. Myla’s suggestion to honour Bukayo in this way, acknowledging not only his inspiration on the pitch, but also off the pitch shows a real maturity of thinking and I thank her for having such a wonderful idea and Darek for the skills to implement that idea.”
Here is what others from the school think:
This is the second major mural devoted to Saka after the Euros 2020 incident.
In 2021, a huge digital mural of Rashford, Saka and Sancho was displayed in Trafford as a mark of support for the players.
This is sure to cheer up Saka and co. in the England camp, who are currently in Qatar and will be preparing for the knockout stages of the tournament after defeating Wales 3-0 on Tuesday.
They now face Senegal on Sunday in the Round of 16 and many like Myla will be hoping and cheering the team on. Maybe this is the time it finally comes home. With support like this, it actually just might.