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Jermain Defoe has accompanied numerous mascots by hand, leading many young boys and girls through tunnels and onto the field before important games. The English forward was always attentive and kind, but once the game began and the young mascots ran towards their families on the sidelines, his role was complete.
In September 2016, a delicate six-year-old boy walked into Sunderland’s locker room at the Stadium of Light prior to a match against Everton and caught sight of his idol. Defoe remembers, “Bradley ran up to me and sat on my lap, and we began talking about my cleats. We instantly clicked. It’s difficult to describe, but it was special, almost like magic.”
Bradley Lowery, a young boy who passed away from a rare childhood cancer called neuroblastoma in July 2017, formed a strong and lasting friendship with Defoe. Even after Bradley’s death, Defoe maintains a close relationship with his family and is deeply impacted by their brief yet impactful connection. This bond serves as a central theme in Defoe’s upcoming documentary, titled “For the Love of the Game,” which delves into the former English striker’s experiences both on and off the field.
The movie will only be shown in theaters in the UK on February 29th and provides an interesting perspective on more than just the 300+ goals that Defoe scored during his 23-year professional career, which included time at West Ham, Bournemouth, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Toronto, Sunderland, and Rangers.
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During his journey, Defoe went through phases of being a vegan and abstaining from alcohol, earned 57 caps for the England team, had his romantic relationships publicly scrutinized by tabloids, and experienced several personal tragedies including the murder of his half-brother Jade in Leytonstone and the passing of his father Jimmy from cancer at the young age of 47. He also endured the loss of his 20-year-old cousin Hannah, who tragically died from electrocution while swimming on vacation in St Lucia.
The striker had a consistent record of scoring goals, but he had difficulty coming to terms with his team’s losses. However, after meeting Bradley, he started to find closure with the past. “Our bond was special and I believe our meeting was not a coincidence, it happened for a purpose,” states Defoe, who is now 41 and serves as the Under-18 coach for Tottenham. “I had the privilege of meeting his family and it was a humbling experience. My only desire was to continue seeing Bradley and bringing joy to his face.”
“In the world of football, people often try to keep their distance and be cautious, but with Bradley, his affection was sincere. I had never encountered someone who looked at me with such admiration before. He had a profound impact on me and I hope that my film can serve as motivation for others from similar backgrounds, showing them that they too can reach their goals.”
If meeting Bradley was a turning point for Defoe, he had previously desired to have faith in others and be easily approachable. As a coach with aspirations to lead a team in the near future, he explains, “I have always viewed myself as unique. I come from a family that is very loving, with powerful women. I have been surrounded by abundant love and have always strived to be transparent; I am willing to have conversations with anyone.”
One of the most prominent women is Defoe’s mother, Sandra, who hails from St Lucia. She raised him with a focus on good behavior, diligence, respect, and self-control. In his desire to give back, Defoe founded a charity organization over ten years ago, which aids underprivileged and homeless youth in the Caribbean and UK. This led to him being awarded an OBE in 2018.
Despite being portrayed as a “love rat” due to multiple kiss-and-tell incidents, the man in question was not always a model of perfection. He admits to being young, single, and caught up in the world of football, which had a profound impact on him. As with anyone, he made mistakes and is not without flaws. However, it was disheartening to see himself labeled in such a negative light. He believes himself to be a good person and always entered into relationships with the intention of finding something meaningful, not just using girls. It was deeply hurtful when, if things didn’t work out, his private matters were made public in an act of revenge.
Defoe is settled in a serious relationship and spends much of his free time studying for his coaching badges along with an MSc in sports directorship. “I love trying to get the best out of young players but I want to be a first-team manager,” says a man who remains in close contact with former mentors including his former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, Sunderland’s former head coach Gus Poyet and a former Bournemouth teammate turned Newcastle assistant manager, Jason Tindall.
The dearth of black coaches and managers in English football – not to mention senior club executives – concerns Defoe, who will most certainly not be let down by his stellar communication skills. “I am worried about it,” says Defoe. “It is depressing but I’m hopeful I’ll get an opportunity. Quite a few of the people I played with have been given chances as managers so I don’t see why it can’t happen for me too. You never know, I might be the first black England men’s manager.”
The film Defoe: For the Love of the Game will be shown in theaters across the UK on February 29th.
Source: theguardian.com
