The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Football fan meets his heroes
A football mad nine-year-old from Peterborough met his football heroes when he made a special trip to Arsenal’s training ground to meet the staff and players at the club. Local lad Raihan Ibrahim enjoyed the VIP day out at the Gunners’ training ground thankstoPeterborough-based charity Sports Connection Foundation and a £ 2,500 donation f rom t he l ocal Amazon fulfilment centre in Flaxley Road.
After being collected from his Peterborough home in an executive car, Raihan was whisked to Arsenal’s Hertfordshire tr a i ni ng base with his father Rahim and former professional footballer and Sports Connection Foundation cofounder, Junior McDougald.
Raihan, who was born with cystic fibrosis, spent thedaywithsomeofArsenal’s top stars including World Cup winner Mesut Ozil, Chilean superstar Alexis SanchezandEngland’sDanny Welbeck. Raihan also talked tactics with Arsenal boss Arsene Wengerandgot some goalkeeping tips from shot stopper Petr Cech.
Speaking after the special visit, Raihan said: “I love Arsenal and I can’t believe I met the players. Alexis Sanchez i s my f avourite player and it was brilliant to meet him. The players were all really cool andthey signed photosandfootballsforme. It was the best day ever!”
Junior McDougald f rom Sports Connection Foundation said: “The aim of our charity is to use sport to helpandinspirechildrenand one of the ways is to provide sporting wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to take Raihan and his father to meet the players and staff at Arsenal. Experienceslike this will stay with the children forever and it wouldn’t be possible to do thisworkwithoutthesupport of businesses like Amazon.”