A GROUP of students were paid a visit by professional footballers hoping to encourage them to follow their dreams.

Boys in Year 10 at Kelmscott School in Markhouse Road in Walthamstow met with Fabrice Muamba and Omer Riza. The athletes visited the school on Friday, May 19, for the professional men’s day event.

Mr Riza, 37, manages Leyton Orient and played as a striker for Arsenal and West Ham United.

Mr Muamba, 29, played for Arsenal, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers before he was forced to retire in 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during an FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane.

Teacher Sefika Mehmet said: “The footballers came in to encourage the young men with their choice of careers. A lot of the boys are very good at football so they could relate to them.

“It gave them confidence and they thought if these guys can do it so can we.

“We had people come in from various organisations like the army and a life coaching company to show them the wide range of opportunities available to them. We want to prepare them for life after school.”