From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a football player. I started playing when I was 5 years old and I have never wanted to stop.

But I’ve learned that loving football and being able to play it is not enough. Some of the crucial skills needed to succeed on and off the field are not taught in schools. Skills like standing up for yourself, teamwork, saving, budgeting helped me navigate my professional and personal life.

I am partnering with Aflatoun International to help call attention to the importance of these skills. These are the kinds of skills that children, regardless of where they grow up or who their parents are, should be taught.

Even students (like myself) need those skills to be prepared for the real world and their place in it. I’m grateful that my parents, teammates and coaches have helped me develop these kinds of skills, but I realise that not everyone has people in their lives like this.

I think it is important that there is more attention for social & financial education and therefore I am very excited to collaborate with Aflatoun International to get the world out in the Netherlands and beyond.