Arsenal midfielder
Aaron Ramsey jetted back to England last night after spending more than a week on
holiday at the Hemingway hotel in Karen,Kenya.
The 22-year-old is the first active Arsenal and English premier league player to visit Kenya in recent years. He jetted in on Saturday 25th May.
The Welsh international capped his one week stay by signing
autographs for Ligi Ndogo kids from Kenya’s premier soccer school.
'‘It is always a great great honor to have a player of your
caliber grace our midst,'’Ligi Ndogo chairman Chris Amimo told him at the media
occasion, on a day when everyone was an Arsenal fan.
"And we hope you can one day sign for Ligi Ndogo,the third biggest club
in the country after Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards,"he joked as he lighted the already jovial mood created by the superstar.
Later, Aaron had a fifteen minute free flow with the Ligi
Ndogo kids where they went through a loll familiarization tour while.The kids joked around,eagerly displaying their nascent skills and oblivious of who was around them;occasionally being jolted back to realization in awe at his deft touches.
The day was capped by a mock game where Aaron’s team tied Ligi Ndogo 3-3 with a last gasp goal, true to the Arsenal sense.
The day was capped by a mock game where Aaron’s team tied Ligi Ndogo 3-3 with a last gasp goal, true to the Arsenal sense.
Potential and Mariga recognition
Ramsey who landed in Nairobi last week on Saturday
says Kenya has the potential to produce world-class football talent.
On
Kenya’s football talent, the Welsh midfield kingpin who began his career at
promoted side Cardiff City said, “this country has already produced exemplary
international footballers[like Mariga] and I have confidence that with initiatives like Ligi
Ndogo, more talent is being nurtured for the future.”
“Am very
excited to have met Ramsey who is one of my favourite players at Arsenal, the
team that I support,” said Andrew Kalama, one of the Ligi Ndogo players.
On Arsenal and the premiership
The Welsh international says that he expects Arsenal to put in a
better performance compared to the recently-ended season by winning titles next
term.
“We
had a difficult season but thank God we fought our way back to the Champions
League. Tottenham gave us tough competition but finally we beat them on the
tape for the Champions League slot," he said.
“We
must now start planning for next season and I know Arsene (Wenger) will beef up
the squad with quality signings. That is the way to go and hopefully we will be
able to challenge for top honours come next season.”
“We
need a trophy now and next season I have strong belief that Arsenal will not
disappoint. We must end this long wait and win a trophy. We currently have a
strong team and with a few additional I know we will deliver the top prize.”
He jetted into the country on Saturday, May 25 and proceeded to Diani in
Mombasa and later to Ol Seki Hemingways Mara, which is owned by local hotel
chain Hemingways Collection.
‘‘I
have loved my stay here, enjoyed the wildlife at the Mara and the weather in
Mombasa with my family. The hospitality has been first class and am definitely
looking forward to coming back some time in the future,’’ added Ramsey.
Ramsey, capped 26
times for Wales, joined Arsenal in 2008 from Cardiff City. He featured in 36 of
the 38 games in the ended 2012/13 season netting once to guide his side to a
fourth place finish ahead of London rivals Tottenham.