{UAH} Euros: Raheem Sterling praises mum and sister who ‘sacrificed their lives’ to get star to brink of England glory
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3:26 AM |
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Raheem Sterling has praised his mum and sister who 'sacrificed their lives' to get the star to the brink of England glory.
The 26-year-old, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica but grew up in the shadow of Wembley stadium in North West London, has been the shining light in the England squad during Euro 2020.
He is currently the squad's second top goal-scorer in the tournament having bagged three and has played a pivotal role in getting the team to the final against Italy on Sunday (June 11).
Raheem has not only excelled internationally but at club level too - he has three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, five League Cups and two Community Shields, all of which he won with Manchester City.
Raheem said: "For a few years we lived with our grandmother in Kingston and I remember watching the other kids with their mums and just feeling really jealous.
"I didn't fully understand what my mum was doing for us, I just knew that she was gone. My grandma was amazing but everybody wants their mum at that age.
"I didn't realise it at the time but my mum was hustling in her own way, trying to make a better life for us."
When he was five years old, Raheem and his sister moved to London to be with their mum. He describes how it was a difficult time and that the family struggled for money. - but that his mum always made sure that the family had what they needed.
During his time at school Raheem admits he was a "naughty" kid which ended up in him getting kicked out of school.
It was football that was to completely change his life. He was scouted for Arsenal but his mother convinced him to go to QPR instead as he had more chance of making an impression at a club where competition from other young players was a little less intense.
Raheem advanced his way through the ranks but it started to take its toll on his family as his mum struggled to take him due to work commitments.
So his sister went with him all the way to Heathrow instead, taking three buses to get there.
"We'd leave at 3.15pm and get home at 11 p.m. Every. Single. Day. She'd sit upstairs in the little cafe and chill until I was done with training.
"Imagine being 17 years old and doing that for your little brother. And I never once heard her say, 'Nah, I don't wanna take him.'
"At the time, I didn't understand how much she was sacrificing. Her and my mum got me here. My whole family played a massive part in my life. Without them, you wouldn't even know me."
When he was 15 Liverpool came after him and he decided to accept their offer to get away from the crime and stabbings that were going on all around him in London, he says.
"In my head, I was like, O.K., this is it. My mum sacrificed her life to get me here. My sister sacrificed her life to get me here. I'm here. Let's go."
The rest is history.
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