Saka dedicates Sócrates Award to Rwandan boy who regained his sight
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal and England winger uses global football platform to champion child healthcare charity Big Shoe
By Pascal Okoth
Bukayo Saka on Tuesday received the 2026 Sócrates Award and used the occasion to shine a light on the story of a 14-year-old Rwandan boy whose eyesight was restored through charitable medical intervention, delivering one of the most emotionally charged speeches of the evening.
The Arsenal and England winger dedicated the honour to the children supported by Big Shoe, an organisation that provides vulnerable young people with access to essential medical care. At the centre of his address was Biringiro, a teenager from a rural Rwandan village who began losing his sight at the age of 12.
“When I was 12, I started losing my sight. My village has no electricity and as my eyesight got worse, even moving around my home became difficult,” Biringiro said in a message Saka read to the audience.
Living without electricity compounded the boy’s deteriorating vision, making routine daily activities increasingly dangerous and isolating him from normal childhood experiences. The situation continued to worsen until Big Shoe intervened, providing the eye care he needed to restore his sight.
“Thanks to Big Shoe, I received the eye care that I needed. Today, I can read the blackboard even from the back of the classroom,” Biringiro said. “I can enjoy being a child again. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited about my future. I want to become an English teacher one day.”
The message drew an audible response from the audience, with Biringiro’s ambition to teach English illustrating in concrete terms how access to basic healthcare can reshape a child’s educational prospects and long-term confidence.
Saka, reflecting on what drives his charitable work, spoke about the particular joy football brings to children and the responsibility he feels to extend that experience to others. “We know how it feels to be a child and having a ball at your feet and how much joy you have,” he said. “Every time I have the opportunity to help another kid have that feeling again, that’s important to me.”
He closed his speech by directing his gratitude away from himself. “It’s an honour to be here, and it’s an honour to receive this award. On behalf of all the children we’ve been able to help, thank you,” he said.
The Sócrates Award, named after the Brazilian football legend and physician-activist Sócrates, recognises professional footballers who have made a significant contribution to social and charitable causes. Saka’s win acknowledged not only his support for Big Shoe but also his broader commitment to using his platform constructively.
For Biringiro, restored vision has meant a return to the classroom, to his peers and to the simple freedoms of childhood. For Saka, the award marked something beyond sporting recognition — confirmation that the reach of a footballer’s influence extends well past the final whistle.
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