BUKAYO SAKA'S former PE teacher today revealed England's two-goal World Cup hero still calls him "Sir" as he tipped the young winger to fire the Three Lions to glory in Qatar.
Mark Harvey taught the 21-year-old Arsenal player as a schoolboy at Greenford High School in Ealing, and says he is his former pupil's "biggest fan".
He has kept in touch with the "role model" student and sent a message when he, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho suffered racist abuse after the Euro 2020 final.
Mr Harvey, now an assistant head at the west London secondary, told the Standard: "I told him to try not to let it bother him. He sent a nice message back saying, "Thanks Sir for still thinking about me""
Saka was man of the match in yesterday's opening fixture, scoring the third and fourth goals as England thrashed Iran 6-2. After the match, Saka celebrated victory with his family and girlfriend Tolami Benson, 22, sitting in the stands at the Doha stadium.
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Denne historien er fra November 22, 2022-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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