Watford defender Danny Shittu
Danny Shittu is Watford's imposing centre back. A regular squad member for Nigeria, he has been at the heart of Watford's promotion push this season.
Born and raised in Bow in East London, Danny is focussed on achieving his goals on the pitch but is just as determined to achieve a few off it too.
What has your experience of racism in football been?
I've seen the footage on television of when racism was rife in football and can see that things have got better. For a young black player like myself to have never suffered abuse speaks volumes for the progress that has been made.
However, I speak to the guys in the Nigeria squad playing in different countries and they tell me they've experienced racism and some still do. Martins is a friend of mine in the squad and he tells me he has been abused and still gets abuse playing for Inter Milan in Italy.
Bow is home to many different communities. What was it like growing up amongst so many different cultures?
I take the understanding I have of different cultures, religions etc for granted because growing up in such a multicultural community has become part and parcel of what is normal to me. It's only when I travel around the world that I realise how much I've learnt through just talking to different people who were my neighbours or school mates.
There's only a handful of Asian professional footballers in the game. You must have played against a number of Asian players in East London, is the talent out there?
Growing up in Bow I've seen the talent at first hand - the talent exists, especially in the estates in and around East London. Some of the players I played with and against were better than me! I don't really know why they haven't made it professionally.
Away from your playing career you run the 'Let me play football camp'. Tell us a bit more about the camp�
Some footballers visit football camps for a day and then disappear. This camp is different as I'll be there all the time, as long as I'm not training. I want the youngsters to see my commitment to them and to underline that footballers do care - we're not just about the money.
I also want to show the youngsters that the camp isn't purely about playing football, but about learning skills to be a better person and plan for the future. If you become a footballer you have to realise that your career is short and there is more to life than kicking a ball.
A key part of the camp is about the youngsters being able to contact me whenever they have a problem - about anything. I want to make my contribution to society and use the game to teach wider values.
Does the camp look at any other areas of the game, apart from becoming a footballer?
Yes. There are so many jobs in the game and not everyone will become a footballer. At the team I run in Bow and some of the older youngsters are now taking coaching courses. I'm trying to encourage youngsters to look at the game in it's entirety.
I've taught myself a lot about computers and have designed my own website. I want to say to youngsters if I can teach myself these skills then so can you.
