LONDON • Despite a "money grabber" reputation that was borne out of the way he engineered his acrimonious transfer from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015, Raheem Sterling has since emerged as one of football's good guys.
Off the pitch, the England forward is increasingly being known for his charity work with organisations like Football Beyond Borders and supporting movements to help victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, while using his considerable social media presence to help the underprivileged.
On Thursday, the 24-year-old further burnished his altruistic credentials after buying 550 tickets for students of his former school, Copland Community, to catch City's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley today.
Having spent his formative years in the vicinity of Wembley after moving from Jamaica at the age of five, Sterling, who also met the students the same day, said it represented "a great opportunity to give back to the community that helped me get to where I am".
He added: "I grew up right next door to the stadium and would dream of one day playing in a Cup final or even representing my country there. To now be able to play there myself is an honour.
ARCH IN SIGHT
When I was young, it was usual to see the final of the FA Cup over the Premier League games, the tradition at old Wembley. It will be nice for me, personally, and the players as well.
PEP GUARDIOLA, Manchester City manager, on the semi-final clash against Brighton at Wembley today.
"It is great to be able to give these students the chance to watch a game at Wembley."
Rebecca Curtis, the principal of his former school, now known as Ark Elvin Academy, was blown away by his gesture.
She said: "To know he still thinks about the community he came from despite how his life has changed is really powerful for us.
"The vast majority of our pupils have never been inside Wembley, let alone seen such a big game with one of our old boys playing."
So it puzzles City manager Pep Guardiola when Sterling, who was allegedly the subject of racist abuse earlier in the season at Chelsea and when England played Montenegro away in their Euro 2020 qualifier during the recent international break, continues to draw flak.
Calling it an "incredible gesture", he said at his pre-match press conference yesterday: "This makes a better society for everyone. Football players are human beings, we live all together and these kind of gestures dignify who he is."
Turning his attention towards the Seagulls, the Spaniard admitted that while City "are still young in terms of a lot of titles", he had set his team, who are still on course for the quadruple, "the target to win and be better".
He told reporters: "When I was young, it was usual to see the final of the FA Cup over the Premier League games, the tradition at old Wembley. It will be nice for me, personally, and the players as well. A challenge to get another (trophy) and we will try."
The 48-year-old also revealed mixed news over his likely first XI selection against Chris Hughton's men after confirming defender Oleksandr Zinchenko would be out for "10 to 12 days".
However, there was a better outcome for Guardiola in the striking department after Sergio Aguero, the league's top scorer on 19 goals, was passed "almost fit and will travel".
He also hinted that Benjamin Mendy could make only his second City appearance since undergoing meniscus surgery last November, as "he has been training for a week".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V BRIGHTON
Singtel TV Ch111, tomorrow, 12.25am
Pep Guardiola vows to fight fire with fire as he prepares Manchester City to play like Barcelona and starve Lionel Messi of the ball. Pep Guardiola returns to the Nou Camp to face Barcelona on
feb 27, 2019 football news Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk both scored twice as Liverpool returned to winning ways with a dominant performance against Watford to stay top of the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp's side were 2-0 up in 20 minutes at Anfield as Senegal forward Mane headed the first before doubling the lead with an outrageous backheel
Stylish Liverpool thrash Watford 5-0 to stay top of league
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be favourite to be named Manchester United manager next season because he has restored the club's "culture and identity" after being put in caretaker charge, according to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says
Starting this blog has been an adventure. I have never been so intimately linked with a football club and its fortunes. There were certainly many ups and downs, thrills and spills. The Good. Gaining an understanding of the Club. Through my limited interaction with the Club's staff, i gained a minor insight about how running a football club works.
17 Aug, 2014 by DhakaTribune - Issuu
Salah's out but Reds not giving up, Football News & Top
Victory over Man City would be biggest FA Cup shock ever, says Newport boss Flynn Newport manager Michael Flynn says beating Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday would represent the biggest shock in the history of the competition.
Newport dealing with fallout from fraud allegations
Real Madrid edge past Real Betis to climb into the La Liga top four with a first win in three matches. Real Madrid earn late win at Real Betis They are behind third-placed Sevilla on goal
Sevilla keep pressure on Atletico with vital win over Celta
Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup replays a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier Shrewsbury Town in FA Cup third-round replays on chance to put Blackburn ahead
Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to Shrews in Cup
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2019, with the headline 'Reds can deal with defeat well: Klopp'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Jurgen Klopp: 'Life is a present. We have to deal carefully
Ikhsan Fandi scored a winning overhead kick in the last minute of play to secure a 3-2 win for his team, Raufoss IL, on Sunday night, May 12, in Oslo, Norway. Five Raufoss IL players crammed into
Killer of 77 goes on trial in Norway - news.yahoo.com
Double injury blow for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Liverpool clash Eric Dier suffered a groin injury in England's 5-0 win over Czech Republic last week and was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate's squad for their visit to Montenegro.
Double injury blow for Spurs ahead of Liverpool clash - Reuters
0 comments:
Post a Comment