Raheem Sterling Remarkable Story Developing Sporting Talent Into Success In Even The Most Difficult Circumstances Is An Inspiration To Nigerian Youths
Raheem Shaquille Sterling was born on the 8th day of December 1994 in Kingston, Jamaica by a relatively unknown father and mother, Mrs Nadine Sterling. His father wasn’t available during his birth.
Raheem’s birth certificate names no father. His surname comes from Nadine’s previous partner Errol Sterling.
His journey to one of the most fearsome cauldrons in football began almost 5,000 miles away in a notoriously dangerous district of Kingston, Jamaica, where he lived during his childhood time.
It is a long way from his beginnings in Maverley, Jamaica – a community with no-go areas controlled by gangs. It is ‘one of the most deprived areas on the whole island’, according to a Jamaican journalist.
‘It contains marginalized ghetto communities lacking basic facilities and struggling to control gun crime’. Raheem as a kid would play for up to eight hours a day, stopping only when he hears gunfire — a sign of riot.
At age six, Sterling emigrated to Britain and settled with his mum in one of London’s toughest estates. His remarkable story is a glorious example of how parents, schools and football clubs can combine to turn sporting talent into success in even the most difficult circumstances.
Sterling was the tiny boy who saw his future even as he lived with troubled youngsters during his childhood. Although Beschi was the God sent to his life. He would walk a mile with Sterling every week, across a trading estate, to take pictures of a building site which later became the football most famous ground in Great Britain.
It took far longer than anticipated but, before Sterling’s eyes, the new Wembley Stadium was completed. The iconic arch became a backdrop to his junior football career, visible from his home on St Raphael’s estate in Neasden, north-west London.
Sterling made a big decision that became a turning point to a career start. He decided to shun gangs to play football with new friends of similar interest at the Copland High School playing field which is close to the nearby Wembley.
When he was just 10, Sterling played two hours of football a day in school. According to a source, ‘Raheem Sterling wasn’t just skilful as a kid. He knew how, when to pass and how to go backwards which, for a kid of his age, was unbelievable. He would get concepts off the football pitch as well as on it. He had a great work ethic which lots of the other kids didn’t.’
Sterling demonstrated his precocious talent for Alpha and Omega Youth Football Club on evenings and weekends. This didn’t take long before QPR recruited him to their Centre of Excellence.
‘There was good and bad in that team,’ said QPR academy director Steve Gallen. ‘The good was Raheem and the bad was the rest of the team. A match would finish 6-5 and Raheem would have scored five goals while the rest let six in.’ Steve Gallen added. He received the nickname “Raheem Park Rangers”, because of his ability to win matches on his own.
‘I fought like crazy to keep him and I was adamant he wasn’t going,’ said Gallen, ‘I was very close with him and his mum, who’s a lovely lady. But at some point in time, everyone feared he would soon be sold out to a big club.
Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all circled around him like sharks. But in the end, Liverpool succeeded in securing the 15 years old in a £1million deal. He left London to Merseyside with his parents. While at Liverpool, he continued his education at Rainhill School in St. Helens. He was able to combine both football and studies. Both you and I know he excelled at Liverpool.
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