Antonio Rudiger is a German international but his father is German-African and his mother is Sierra Leonean. Bukayo Saka has both Nigerian parents. The two became close friends when they played together in the Premier League (Rudiger plays for Chelsea and Saka plays for Arsenal). Another thing these two stars have in common is their compassion when they are willing to help poor children on the black continent.
Rudiger has supported many projects of the BigShoe Africa organization over the years. The center-back, who plays for Real Madrid, said: “Many children in Africa do not have the opportunity to live a normal life, do not have medicine because their families cannot afford to provide the necessary medical care. Helping them have a better future is my personal wish. We want to continue to use our reach to help more and more children in Africa.”
In July 2024, Rudiger invited Saka to launch a joint initiative in Nigeria, where every 3,000 people, including 800 children, receive eye exams, eye drops and vision support. At the end of October, the Cooperation Smile foundation, with financial support from Rudiger and Saka, successfully performed surgeries on many children in South Africa. In addition, the duo also helped 100 other children in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Tanzania to have surgeries for physical deformities such as clubfoot, burns, fractures and tumors. “Every child deserves health care, and unfortunately, many children do not have access to basic medical care,” said Saka. “These treatments will help them have a better life. I hope projects like this will inspire others to do what they can for those less fortunate.”
BigShoe Africa CEO Valerie Fiesser praised Rudiger and Saka for their support, which has brought tangible results. “The commitment of Rudiger and Saka is not just about football, but also about health benefits and a brighter future for children. We are very grateful to Rudiger and Saka for their support, which has brought positive change to many disadvantaged children in Africa.”
