‘I couldn’t believe it!’ | Children delighted as Sarr drops by Summer of Spurs

Our Foundation’s final multi-sports camp of its Summer of Spurs was capped off with a surprise visit from Pape Matar Sarr today.

Our Senegalese midfielder brought smiles and applause as he joined in games, posed for photos and signed autographs.

Hundreds of children, including participants from Haringey Council’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme, have taken part in the Foundation’s summer holiday provision across the local area. Today’s camp took place at Duke’s Aldridge Academy next to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pape said: “This is a good thing about the Club, trying to help a lot of people through the Foundation, especially providing these opportunities for youngsters so that they can do something good in the future.”

Spurs fan Rico, 11, from Tottenham, said: “The sessions have been really fun and it was a big surprise to see Pape today. One of my friends told me he was coming over and I said ‘No way!’ I couldn’t believe it, but then I saw him, so I ran to my bag looking for something he could sign – I’m a huge fan!”

Pape also took a moment to greet participants on our Foundation’s Spurred 2 Coach course happening at the same venue.

The programme was set up for young adults without qualifications, but an interest in coaching in Haringey, Enfield and surrounding boroughs.

The Foundation then helps fund and support them on to the FA Introduction to Coaching Football qualification (previously known as the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football).

It was the second staging of Spurred 2 Coach in what has been a bumper Summer of Spurs provided free to local young people thanks to the support of funders like the Club, the Premier League Charitable Fund and the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Tyrese, nine, from Enfield, has been among participants and his grandad, Godfrey Alexander, said having the sessions available is really important.

“It makes a big difference. There’s not so much out there available for the kids, so it’s a really good thing Tottenham’s doing," he said.

Raya, 11, from Haringey, has been another participant. As well as the Foundation’s multi-sports sessions offering football, dodgeball, badminton, netball and table tennis, there have been various life skills workshops taking place, with Raya particularly enjoying cooking and taking home a chicken dish for her family.

“It was nice!” exclaimed her mum, Pinky Grey-Davies. “Raya loves it here. The first day she came she wasn’t sure about being involved, then when I picked her up she was saying she wanted to go again tomorrow and early so that she could talk to new friends. She’s come out of her shell a lot and it’s great how all the kids are involved.”