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
Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 Advertisement MILAN, Feb 3: Parma forward Gervinho scored twice as his team hit back from 3-1 behind on Saturday to draw 3-3 at Serie A leaders Juventus who dropped points for only the third time in the league this season.
Queiroz livid despite rout. Print Email Iran coach Carlos Queiroz blasted his critics after his side crushed Yemen 5-0 on Monday to fire an ominous warning to
Carlos Queiroz - Wikipedia
Liverpool, who had failed to score in their last two games against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League, could have bagged even more as Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah also ran Watford ragged. The result kept Liverpool top of the Premier League on 69 points, just ahead of Manchester City on 68 points
Stylish Liverpool thrash Watford to stay top | Free Malaysia
Qatar's present 23-man Asian Cup team consists of 14 players who are 25 or under. The oldest in the Qatar squad is a 30-year-old with the rest not being more than 28. Did this article give you a clearer overview of Felix Sanchez and the Qatar national football team? If yes, we'd love to hear from you!
Qatar vs Lebanon: WC 2022 hosts confident, says Sanchez
Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top-flight run for 38 years Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers Helder Costa in action with Bournemouths Steve Cook REUTERS/Darren
Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top-flight run for 38
Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on
Croatia beat Azerbaijan as Kramaric nets late winner
Revived Dutch ready for 'big things', Football News & Top
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
LONDON: Manchester United announced on Friday that midfielder Marouane Fellaini has left the club to join China's Shandong Luneng on a permanent transfer. The Belgium international, 31, arrived at Old Trafford from Everton in August 2013 and went on to make 177 appearances throughout five-and-a-half seasons at United, scoring 22 goals.
Marouane Fellaini leaves Man Utd for China's Shandong
Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina out of hospital after head injury scare Description: Ospina played for six years with French club Nice before joining Arsenal in 2014. He arrived at Napoli last August on a one-year loan with an option to buy.
Napoli 'keeper Ospina out of hospital after head injury scare
Neymar "cried for two days" after injuring his right foot for a second time in January, he told Brazilian television according to an excerpt of an interview broadcast on Tuesday. The 27-year-old
Neymar 'cried for two days' after new foot injury | Macau
0 comments:
Post a Comment