Toon player shows pupils some moves
MIDFIELDER PAYS VISIT T0 SCHOOL FOR MATHS WITH TWIST
MIKEL Merino showed he has ‘super moves’ as the Newcastle United midfielder danced along with schoolchildren at the launch of a learning initiative.
The 21-year-old Spaniard visited Choppington Primary School in Northumberland on behalf of the NUFC Foundation as the Premier League’s nationwide ‘Supermovers’ campaign was introduced.
This initiative encourages children to become more active throughout their school day and enhance their learning experience through movements and physical exercise.
One of the lessons involves dancing to a tune in order to learn the times tables – something which Newcastle midfielder Merino was more than willing to join in with.
“I had fun, it is always really fun to dance with the kids,” Merino said about Thursday’s ‘Super Movers’ event, which has been launched by the BBC and the Premier League, and during which the NUFC Foundation played a key role.
“The movement they are trying to create with this project is amazing, I think it is a great idea for the kids to be active, to move and to be fit. This is great, I support it, I think it’s a really good thing for them because they can study at the same time that they have fun and this is the most important thing.”
Merino was keen on a wide variety of sports while growing up in Pamplona in Spain, including playing tennis and basketball.
And the Magpies midfielder believes it is crucial that children are active at school, in order to improve both their learning their health.
“Yes, when I was younger I was playing a lot of sports like basketball, tennis, handball – everything which had a ball in, I was good at it,” Merino added.
“I love to run in races – no sprints, just long races – but I think sport is a really important thing in my life, and that it should be in every kid’s life too. To do sport makes you healthy, it is great for everybody that they are doing this and I am pleased to have been involved.”