Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and his Leicester City teammate Patson Daka— the Zambia striker—have recently brought hope and joy to children at the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Completesports.com reports.
In the face of a gloomy end to their Premier League campaign Ndidi and Daka showed that football goes far beyond the pitch.
The touching visit came just days before Leicester City’s final home match of the season, which saw the Foxes lose to Liverpool and suffer relegation after a difficult campaign. However, the off-field gesture by Ndidi and Daka offered a different kind of victory – one of compassion, connection, and community.
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The Rainbows Hospice is a specialist care home that supports children and young people with life-limiting illnesses. It offers palliative care and vital emotional, spiritual, and social support to both the individuals and their families.
Ndidi, 28, and Daka, 26, spent quality time engaging with the children, sharing laughter and special moments that left a lasting impact on everyone present.
Speaking after the visit, Ndidi said:
“It was humbling to visit Rainbows to meet all the incredible people and their families. Spending time with the children was very special to me and Patson and we are very proud to support them.
“Football can bring people together in powerful ways and seeing the smiles reminded us why it’s so important to give back.”
The two players have both contributed significantly to Leicester City’s recent achievements, playing key roles in the club’s FA Cup triumph in the 2020/2021 season and the EFL Championship title win in the 2023/2024 campaign. Ndidi also featured in the side that won the Community Shield in 2021.
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While Leicester City’s demotion from the Premier League in 2022/2023 marked the end of a nine-year top-flight spell — making them only the second former Premier League champions to be relegated after Blackburn Rovers in 1998 — the Foxes bounced back in style in 2023/2024 season by clinching a record-extending eighth second tier title.
With the club now facing another challenging chapter in the Championship, questions remain about whether Ndidi and Daka will stay for another spell in England’s second tier.
However, their recent visit to Rainbows has certainly solidified their status as role models whose impact stretches far beyond football. In difficult times, they’ve shown what truly matters — the human touch.
By Johnny Ogbah in the UK
