Raheem’s future illuminated by his mother
KATHMANDU: JULY 1 – I don’t remember much, but in the streets of Kingston, when it was raining, the children would run out, rejoicing in the rain and running as fast as they could. When Raheem enters the house in a daze, he used to get a lot of abuse, he recalls.
His mother’s decision to move him from Kingston, Jamaica to London when he was five years old was not easy in itself. But the ignorant child was not allowed to disobey the mother’s decision. The mother has added a story of great family separation behind this decision. His father was killed when he was two years old. It was then that the mother decided to leave Kingston, Jamaica, for the future of the family. Raheem says, ‘After the murder of my father, the pace of my life changed. Then my mother decided not to stay in Jamaica even if it was for me. She decided to go to England to make life better. Where our education was also linked. ‘
Born in Kingston, Maverley was known for its poverty, deprivation, and high levels of criminal activity. Where the shooting was normal. Therefore, his childhood was also spent in a struggle. A decision by his mother took Raheem from Jamaica to England.
England’s national team and Premier League club Manchester City have established him as an “iconic footballer” for football fans around the world.
“We went to London when I was five, but things were very different there. Where did I get the money from? But my mother would not let me down. My mother used to do cleaning work to make up for my loss. I still feel sad when I remember this. I live at home, my mother cleans the toilet as a cleaner, I have cried many times saying it should not happen, ‘he recalls.
Raheem turned 26 years old. He has got everything now. He is constantly receiving immense achievements in his life. He has been a key player in the England national team and has been a key member of Manchester City throughout his club career.
His success began in July 2015 when he left Liverpool for City. When he established himself as a famous footballer. He was recruited by City as the most expensive U-21 player at the time.
Before his football career began, he was a “bad kid” when he arrived in London. Due to his activities, the schools could not sustain him for a long time. He was somewhat chaotic as his life was overshadowed by gangsterism.
Raheem says, ‘I was very bad until I finished primary school. I was expelled from school. They (school officials) told my mother that I should be admitted to a special school even if the school did not take me directly, ”he says.
He had an unnatural attachment to football. Raheem’s answer to those who asked him what he liked was, “I love playing football.”
Seeing his deep love for football, one of the teachers said, “If you succeed on the path you are walking, you will be known as an England player in 17 years, otherwise you will be in prison as a prisoner.”
Raheem was growing up in the shadow of Wembley. His playing skills were making it clear that he would one day take him to Wembley.
His teacher, Chris Bessie, was watching his talent closely. Academically, it was wrong to call him a normal student. Because he was different from the others. “Raheem was an intellectual in many ways,” says Bessie. Although he was placed in Vernon House for special education, he saw extraordinary abilities in a child-like Raheem.
His football talent started from Alpha and Omega Youth Club. Whenever Premier League club Queens Park Rangers looked at his talent. He was different from those who were playing there. Steve Gayle, then director of QPR Academy, shared his experience: “There were good and bad things in that team. One game ended 6-5. Raheem alone scored five goals while the rest scored six goals.
He joined QPR Academy at the age of 14 and was included in QPR’s U-18 team. Manchester City was watching his game, but Liverpool and Fulham offered him a contract. Not to mention that he signed for Liverpool as a teenager for 1 million euros.
He was only 17 years and 107 days old when he made his debut for Liverpool. He was the third-youngest player to make his debut in Liverpool’s history.
He scored 23 goals in 129 games at Anfield. He became known as the European Golden Boy in 2014. He even won the title of the best young player in Europe at that time. Earlier, the title was won by Sergio Agüero, Mario Balotelli, Lionel Messi, and Paul Pogba.
He signed a five-year deal with Manchester City in July 2015. He is now established as one of the City’s ‘key players’.
At one point, he was portrayed by a national magazine as a smoker, a chaotic person taking nitrous oxide. In that case, if he had been more deranged, a football talent could have fallen without a hitch. But he escaped.
For Raheem, his family has given up a lot. Many times his mother has sacrificed his happiness for his happiness. Raheem says, “But now my mother and sister don’t have to worry about me, because now I understand.”
Raheem, who got the opportunity to play at Wembley at the age of 17, has established himself as a player who writes the history of England. His dream of playing football at Wembley has not come true. Raheem has witnessed a new history for England after 55 years at Wembley. Even though he did not see his happiness on his father’s face, Raheem is going to see his picture on the happy face of thousands.
After 55 years of defeating Germany in the knockout stage, his respect in England has increased even more. The moment he is on the field, the English supporters are really happy. That’s why when he scored in the crucial game against Germany at Wembley, his supporters kept calling him “Raheem, Raheem, Ours Raheem” for a long time. Coincidentally, when Raheem scores a goal, England wins the game.
It has also made him confident. But there is still much to be done. The challenge of breaking England’s main competition title is again in Raheem’s generation and England is waiting for it. England has reached the quarterfinals of the current Euro 2020.
(In collaboration with the agency)
