Running head: MORE THAN JUST ATHLETES
More Than Just Athletes
Syed Hamdan Mustafa
The American University of Sharjah
Dr. Victoria Amador
9 October 2013
MORE THAN JUST ATHLETES
More Than Just Athletes
Football or soccer, as it is called in America, is the most famous sport in the world.
Countries from all over the world play the beautiful game. Football is a game of passion and
emotions. It has fans from all over the world; some people treat football as a religion. However,
there are also people who have this misconception that anyone who can kick a ball can be a
footballer. However, they are mistaken; footballers get to the big stage by hard-work and
determination. People also argue that footballers are spoilt and they do not deserve the money
they are paid. Not all footballers are used to money; in fact, some of the footballers did not have
enough money to buy a pair of football shoes, when they were young, but they still fought to get
where they are now. Footballers are more than just people who can kick a ball, some of them are
role-models. They inspire and influence people like celebrities. Their journey to fame and
greatness is an inspiration to kids who should always believe that no dream is unachievable.
Football is a game of tactics, strength, skills and passion. Nearly every country in Europe
has a football league where clubs from all cities compete to claim superiority. Every fan dreams
of their club or country winning competitions. Football does not care about what family background a player comes from or how he was the smartest kid in the class. A footballer is not
judged by his race, religion or back-ground. All that matters is how he plays on the field. There
is hope for everyone in the world, not only the ones who are great academically. Footballers like
Cristiano Ronaldo who did not have enough money to afford football shoes when he was a kid,
have made it to the biggest stage. He is known all around the world; he had a dream and went for
it believing the talent and skills he possesses was enough to take him all the way. This is a lesson
for every one that one should believe in themselves and work hard to achieve it.
MORE THAN JUST ATHLETES
Didier Drogba, a footballer from Ivory Coast, is responsible for ending the civil war in
his country that lasted for nearly two years killing thousands of residents. Beyond Sport, a
website that promotes sport, gave him the Humanitarian Award for his services to the country as
a player. As Nick Keller, the founder of Beyond Sport, says, Didier has taken an active role in
the search for peace in his home country not through obligation, but through choice. In a day and
age when we are searching more than ever for real heroes in sport, it is an honor to present
Didier with this award. Didier clearly understands his position in the world and the opportunity
he has to go beyond sport. (Keller, para.2) He also has a foundation, known as the Didier
Drogba Foundation, aimed at helping and funding education for people in Africa. He is known
for giving the entirety of money he received from sponsors towards building a hospital in his
country through the foundation. He was also named in the most influential person in the world
by Time magazine in 2010. Drogba asked the people of Ivory Coast to look past the differences
and think for the welfare of the country. He pleaded the people to stop fighting and to stop the
bloodshed. His message was displayed in all the forms of media in the country for several
months. The people in the country listened to him, even though he was just a footballer. Drogba
was more effective than any other politician was in putting a halt to the war; that is the
magnitude of his value for the country. He is regarded by many as a country hero.
People argue that footballers do not deserve what they get. They are unique in their own
special way. They have worked harder than many, spent all those hours in the training ground
striving to be better and never giving up. Indeed, it is true that not all footballers are saints. There
are some that go in to the news for the wrong reasons. However, that is no reason to say they do
not deserve what they have. They can influence people by their words and actions, like Drogba
did.
MORE THAN JUST ATHLETES
Bill Shankly, ex-football manager, once said, Some people believe football is a matter of
life and death. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that. ("Daily Mirror,"
2012) That is the reason football is the most known sport in the world. Footballers work hard all
their life and run the risk of breaking a leg every match just because they are doing what they
love, for the fans they love and for a country they love.
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MORE THAN JUST ATHLETES
References
Daily Mirror. (2012, 11 26). Retrieved from
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Liverpool-legendBill-Shankly-Football-more-important-than-life-and-death-plus-his-other-great-quotesarticle570339.html
Keller, N. (n.d.). Didier Drogba honoured with beyond sport humanitarian in sport award.
Retrieved from http://www.beyondsport.org/mediacentre/press-release/view/1375/didierdrogba-honoured-with-beyond-sport-humanitarian-in-sport-award
