Charlton Athletic first-team players Chuks Aneke and Karin Muya recently visited students at Royal Greenwich Trust School in Greenwich.
Aneke and Muya began their visit by fielding questions from a group of the school’s students who participate in the Premier League Inspires programme, which is delivered by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) staff. The programme prepares participants for further education and employment, by empowering them to develop personal, social, employability and life-skills.
“We met some amazing students and took some interesting questions,” Aneke said following the visit. “I enjoyed speaking to them and giving them advice. It’s good to do these visits and be a positive role model to the students.”
Muya also discussed the enjoyable visit and her fulfilment at being able to inspire female students: “I found it refreshing to speak to the students, and it was really encouraging to speak some of the girls who are interested in football and sport.”
After meeting participants from the PL Inspires Programme, Aneke and Muya were invited to a PE lesson. They answered more questions from students and then took part in an interactive reactions test activity with the class.
Florin Maldarasanu, Royal Greenwich Trust School’s Head of PE, said: “This was an amazing player visit. I think it is very important for the students to learn about the role models which these Charlton players are.
“It was the students’ idea to challenge the players with the reactions test. Karin’s reactions were very good!”
Maldarasanu also talked about the importance of Charlton Athletic’s Red, White and Black Day parade to his school’s students. A number of Royal Greenwich Trust School’s pupils designed a banner and took it to the parade last month, which celebrated diversity and inclusion ahead of the Addicks’ home game against Wrexham.
“We have got such a diverse community in Greenwich, and it is very important that we celebrate and embrace diversity in the Charlton community, as well as in our school’s community,” said Florin Maldarasanu.
