FAMILY FIRST – LESSONS FROM RAHEEM STERLING

There have been many lessons from the ongoing World Cup in Qartar. As the hostilities on the pitch continue and events continue to prove pundits right and wrong, one other significant lesson of the World Cup is the fact that the wellbeing of a family is more important than the fame, achievements and encomiums on an individual.

Raheem Sterling, the sterling England forward has reinvigorated the assertion that the family is very important. Following a robbery at his family home, England forward Raheem Sterling returned home from Qatar ahead of Sunday night’s 3-0 victory over Senegal in the round of 16 of the competition with the approval of manager Gareth Southgate.

Raheem Sterling of England left for home from the World Cup in Qatar after armed intruders broke into his home while his family was inside. It is unknown if Sterling will return for the Three Lions(PA).

The decision of Raheem must have been borne out of a decision and determination to personally assess the wellbeing of his family. This lays credence to the fact that the family is an integral part of any achievement.

The 27-year-old was absent from Gareth Southgate’s team as they defeated Senegal 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals against France. It’s believed that Sterling vanished after a break-in at his home on Saturday night, which left him understandably shaken and worried about the safety of his kids.

Given the crucial stage of the tournament in Qatar, Sterling did not make the decision lightly and may yet make a comeback under the right circumstances. If Sterling plays again at the World Cup, Southgate said, “we’ve got to wait and see,” with his sole focus being on giving the Chelsea forward the time and support he needs.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a press conference at Al Bayt Stadium, the England manager said, “Raheem is having to deal with a family situation, as the FA statement says, so he’s going back to England.”

“We need to give him some time so he can try to fix that or be there for his family. At this point, giving him that space is the most crucial decision to make.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the support given to him will certainly encourage him to do more for his country in the future.

We don’t want to go into too much detail because he is on his way home and we obviously want to respect his right to privacy and be given space.

Naturally, it’s not ideal for the group before a big game, but in those situations, family comes first and the individual is more significant than the group.