Thought for the month

Bukayo Saka is a rising football star playing for Arsenal and England. Many young people see him as a role model. Bukayo has enjoyed success but has also had to face real challenges. At Euro 2020, when he was 19 years old, he was the youngest Englishman to ever start a match at the semi-final or later stage of a major tournament. But when he missed a penalty in the final, he faced an horrific torrent of racist abuse. Then in Euro 2024 he scored a great goal against Switzerland and a confident penalty and was given the man of the match trophy.

When Bukayo was asked how he had overcome the pressure of the past he said, “I have faith in God.” He grew up in a Christian home in West London and still lives with his parents and brother, who regularly pray for him. He attended The Edward Betham Church of England Primary School, which has a strong Christian ethos. When the Year Five pupils at his old school were doing a project on “Do fame and Christian faith go together?” they asked Bukayo what role his faith plays in his life?

He replied, “I grew up in a Christian family who believe strongly in God. This always made me curious to get to know God more and I have done so by reading my Bible a lot and going to church a lot over the years. My faith is constantly being exercised when I’m put in different situations, or I play in big football matches such as my England debut. I hold on to God’s promises such as, ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’. So, before every game I ask God to help me play well, help my team and try to score a goal or assist a goal and he answers my prayers, so this is why I point to the sky to thank him.”

The head teacher Caroline Chamberlain says Bukayo was a polite, modest and impressive young man who was conscientious at school and has not been changed by fame. She said that pupils at the school were inspired by his words because he has shown that a strong faith is powerful in helping you to do well in whatever field you work in. Bukayo is one of the new generation of English football stars, some of whom are also Christians, who are praised for their decency, work ethic and talent. When Bukayo received the London young player of the year award in 2021, he posted a photo on Instagram showing him taking a break during training with the words, “The Lord is my strength.”