Bukayo Saka is set to be rewarded for his courage in the Euro 2020 final by being given the Freedom of Ealing.
Born in the London borough in 2001, the England star will become the youngest-ever person to receive the honour.
Local council bosses have nominated the teenager following his penalty miss for the Three Lions against Italy, which was met with a wealth of support from across the country amid sickening racist attacks online.
Arsenal heroes including Ian Wright and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have sent messages to Saka with the likes of Harry Maguire, Prince William and Lewis Hamilton also speaking out.
Ealing Council are the latest to pay tribute to Saka’s bravery in stepping up for his country.
Leader of the West London borough’s authority, Peter Mason, described the youngster’s remarkable rise.
He said: “Just a few short years ago, Bukayo Saka was playing football on the Brentside Playing Fields and on the pitches at Greenford High.
“Everyone in Ealing shares an incredible sense of pride that one of our own represented England at Wembley on Sunday.
Read Also: Italy Captain Chiellini Claims He ‘Cursed’ Saka Before Missed Penalty In Euro 2020 Final
“His is a remarkable story of talent and achievement that everyone can take hope, inspiration and encouragement from.
“Neither he nor any of the England squad should be subjected to the intolerant, racist abuse as they have been in the last 48 hours.
“We don’t boo our heroes. We honour them.
“I’m delighted therefore to nominate him to be the youngest ever recipient of the Freedom of the Borough.
“I hope this will send a clear message that Saka is Ealing’s own, that we are proud of him, and that is one of our heroes.”
Saka has received huge support from his local area since making the step from Greenford Celtic to Arsenal.
Greenford High School said on Twitter: “So, so proud of Bukayo Saka and the England team. This will not define you Bukayo, you have brought this tournament to life. See you for the World Cup next year.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised the player’s ‘strong character’ following the final defeat.
9 Comments
SAKA SHINE YOUR EYES!!!No honour is greater for a black man than playing for Nigeria.
Big lie, as far as this goes, saka is set for life and any talks about him representing naija is stupid!!
Badly-brought-up people easily insult with words like “stupid” Saka’s decision to play for England is irreversible but was not wise. As things have turned out he is emotionally cracked and the psychological impact of what he will go through in future is imaginable
Nigeria would never have treated Saka like this. You don’t belong there. Other Nigerian folks like Saka should learn from this. We told you so.
Saka on your own.
The NFF should send Saka a get-well message. We know he’s an Englishman, but he now knows where he belongs, or maybe He still does not.
An English man with the name Bukayo Saka.
Who knows, one day we might have a yoruba man in the SE named Xiaoping Chang.
Or an Igbo man named Pradeep Singh.
Or an Urhobo man named Massimo Belotti.
How about a Hausa man named Jose Sanchez.
Bukayo Saka the English man from Ealing.
All this awards is to show solidarity and love to saka inorder to raise his spirit and shame the foolish racist dudes……In the Western world public perception is vital and people come out to condemn anything racist backlash inorder to oil the public perception……But truely those racist spoke the mind of most English people after the final…..The truth is bitter but it can’t be changed…..Bukayo saka can never be white or English….. Bukayo saka will always be racially abused if he falls Short of his responsibility as a footballer….. Bukayo saka will be thrown to the trash if an English player crops up in his playing position….. Bukayo saka can never captain the English team…..This is the sad truth but what do I know
@Akp and @ Ako Amadi and others, you have all spoken well .
Except in France that , blacks are treated fairly, every other western countries treat blacks as something Monkeys , except you are exceptionally incredibly good players .
That is why you can never see black goal keepers wearing Jersy of top clubs in Europe, Chelsea black keeper was given life line opportunity because their priced white goalkeeper messed up severally, and when Mendy came in ,whose sign on fees and salary is not up to half of the white skinned keeper ; he proved that he is in deed the main dude . Many of the coaches would have loved to give black keepers opportunities at the top European clubs but for the fear of the racial abuse.
In any case , the english people still fear better with their records of making use of black players in the main national team ; the Germans are the worst , even half cast ( Germans racism is something else).
On a final note , yes I agreed with @ Ako Amadi ; the racial abuse of Saka is unfortunate act that will hunt and affect him psychologically for years , if not throughout his football career; but I think, chosen England ahead of Nigeria is still the best decision.
You don’t blame poor young boy Saka, but blame our awkward nation run by the fraudulent administrators who would rather run down their people, particularly after their playing career.
Where are the Cal Ikpeme, where are the Siasias , where the Finidis, where are the Amunikes ( England stand by their own and reached major final after many decades, Algeria stands by their own and in less than a year , he is already tutoring our own white so called expatriate Oga Rohr the football coaching lesson and till date ) .
If Egbo and Emenalo were to be white Nigeria wouldn’t have been able to afford them , even if they broken bank ; but when you don’t package your own to the outside world , who does it for you.
I stand by Saka