London, UK – England and Arsenal football star Bukayo Saka has reunited with his first coach, Colin Nixon, to spotlight the significant role local coaches play in shaping young talent and fostering community development.
Nixon first noticed Saka’s potential when the winger was just six years old and invited him to play for Greenford Celtic.
Speaking on Nixon’s impact, the 23-year-old credited his early football journey to the opportunities his coach provided.
“Nixon was the manager of the team, and he gave 9 or 10 players an opportunity to train, play matches, have fun, and stay away from potentially negative influences. I’m here today because he gave me the chance to play football,” Saka said.
Saka emphasized the importance of community coaching in nurturing the next generation. “Coaches like him have a big role in helping kids of this generation, for sure,” he added.
Championing Diversity in Coaching
As an ambassador for Chase, Saka is also advocating for greater access to coaching qualifications for people from low-income backgrounds and increasing diversity in the profession. A YouGov survey commissioned by Chase revealed that over half of respondents would be more motivated to pursue coaching if they had role models from diverse backgrounds.
This collaboration between Saka and Chase aims to ensure that young people have role models and opportunities to thrive in sports, regardless of their socioeconomic background.