BREAKING NEWS: Man Utd announce new Captain announce new Captain
According to the Premier League official sites: Over the last four years, 16-year-old Arissa has gone from a participant at Premier League Kicks to joining Manchester United Foundation’s Youth Board and inspiring fellow young people in the local community.
In recognition of her hard work and personal development, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes presented Arissa with a Community Captain award pennant and special captain’s armband as part of the Premier League’s “More than a game” campaign.
After being initially referred to the Foundation’s targeted prevention programme (funded by the Premier League) four years ago, she took part in workshops around youth violence prevention and personal development.
As a result of her engagement, Arissa joined a Street Reds (also known as Premier League Kicks] session in Moss Side, utilising her love of football to develop her confidence and leadership skills.
Kicks uses the power of football to engage with young people such as Arissa to help them fulfil their potential by providing access to free weekly football sessions and education workshops in safe and supportive community environments.
It was with this support that Arissa really began to raise her aspirations and make decisions that would give her a better outlook in life. This included joining the Foundation’s Youth Board, where she has been a part of social action projects and discussions around youth violence with dignitaries from Greater Manchester Police, Salford Council, and presenting to Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.
At the end of 2023, Arissa was successful in joining the Street Games Youth Advisory Board as an advisor, inputting to national policy around youth community sport and engagement.
“It’s been amazing to be here today, meet Bruno and receive this award; it means a lot to me,” Arissa said. “Manchester United Foundation is not just football, it’s a safe space for a lot of kids. I’ve always said if I can help a kid like I was helped, I think I’d be very grateful.”
After meeting Man Utd’s Community Champion, Fernandes believes that Arissa is an inspiration to others.
“It’s been a pleasure to meet Arissa today and hear all about her journey with the Foundation,” he said. “It’s amazing what programmes like these can do for young people in the local community and how it can literally change their life.
“This is what Manchester United is about, supporting young people and being there for our communities and fans. I’m sure Arissa will go on to do great things in her life and I’m fortunate to present her with this award.”
What is Premier League Kicks?
Man Utd are one of 90 clubs currently delivering the Premier League Kicks programme.
Since its launch in 2006, PL Kicks has engaged more than 520,000 young people such as Arissa, delivering over 1m hours of free sessions at 4,900+ venues across England and Wales.informationguideNigeria
Sessions take place in some of the most high-need areas, Kicks creates opportunities for young people who are at risk of anti-social behaviour or youth violence to regularly engage in football, sport, mentoring and personal development opportunities.
Manchester United fans are convinced that Erik ten Hag has been vindicated after Jadon Sancho’s shocking performance for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Jadon Sancho made his stunning return to Borussia Dortmund in January as part of a loan deal after he was frozen out of the Manchester United first team.
The 23-year-old United loanee had taken aim at Erik ten Hag after the Red Devils boss publicly criticised him after the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal last September.
Ten Hag claimed that Sancho had not impressed enough in training to warrant a place in his United squad for the trip to the Emirates in the Premier League.
Following Sancho’s bombshell statement on social media in response to Ten Hag’s criticism, the United outcast was excluded from the club’s first team.
Sancho, who reportedly refused to apologise to Ten Hag, was able to make his long-awaited return to first-team football after he secured a move to Dortmund.
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Sancho’s Dortmund performance vs PSV
Jadon Sancho made an immediate impact in his return to Borussia Dortmund after he came off the bench and picked up an assist in a 3-0 win over Darmstadt 98.
However, the former England international endured a disappointing night in the Champions League after Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven.
Donyell Malen fired the German club into a first-half lead before Luuk de Jong pulled the scoreline level for PSV Eindhoven in the second half from the spot-kick.
Sancho started the first-leg round-of-16 clash at the Philips Stadium and the Dortmund winger was withdrawn in the 68th minute for Marius Wolf.
Statman Dave on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, highlighted the main stats from Sancho’s underwhelming performance against PSV.
Sancho failed to create a single chance for Dortmund and had no shots for the Bundesliga outfit, with the Manchester United loanee losing possession 12 times.
The ex-Three Lions star had a pass accuracy of 71 per cent and Sancho left the pitch without scoring or registering an assist in the first-leg Champions League tie.
Man Utd fans react to Sancho’s performance
“Ever since Sancho left, we’ve won all our matches. He was the negative energy at Manchester United,” one fan said.
Another wrote: “Sancho FC, [what’s up]? Sure, Sancho is proving us all wrong and showing Ten Hag how world class he is at Dortmund?”
“The Sancho crowd will be very quiet tonight I take it,” a third posted.
Someone else asked: “Where are the Sancho fan boys?”
While a fifth added: “Look at who they’ve been defending. Sancho didn’t deserve to have even a single breath of Manchester United.”
A sixth tweeted: “I think it is clear now that Ten Hag was in the right about Jadon Malik Sancho.”
And a seventh commented: “The Sancho we saw at United is back.”
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