Irie Football

We can all recognise the distinct and legendary voice that floats across the airwaves of Bob Marley.  We're all knowledgeable of his irie vibes, ganja blazing and spiritual, 'one love' teachings.  But few of us know of the deep love and passion that he had for our favourite sport, football.



The iconic natty dread became the first superstar from the third world, rising to the pinnacle of fame in the 1970's after burning upstages across the UK and Europe due to his conscious vibrations and positive, philosophical way of life.  His music which united people and nations across the globe yields an ironic twist to how football similarly holds the ability to do the same.

It is widely documented that when the "Tuff Gong" wasn't in the studio, he was playing football.  Touring the world, Bob played wherever he was, always integrating and interacting with different cultures.  This also offered him plenty opportunities to meet some of football's greatest.

 At the height of the reggae superstar's acclaim, there were numerous parks across London where he could have been spotted playing a game with some big names in the sport.

Though Bob Marley's passion for the game granted him the position as a true footy fanatic, there have been mixed reports on how good he actually was.

First, an article quotes Trevor Wyatt, the UK distributor for Island Records (Marley's Label) who had the pleasure of witnessing Bob play in scrimmages around West London:

"...Trying to get the ball off him... was just hopeless. Because Bob was the person he was, the ball always came to him.  He was the midfield general, if you like, and they called him Skipper.  They were so good, it was like playing Brazil...".

On the dissenting side was Mauricio Valladares, a Brazilian photographer who was present at a game between Bob Marley and the wailers, and a team of former Brazilian Internationals (which included Paulo Cesar, a member of the "great" Brazilian 1970 squad), who claimed:

"...[That] game was actually short. Everything was quick, thank God, because the game was horrible.  Bob was really bad.  He simply couldn't play.  From 1 to 10 I would give him a 1.5".  

Ouch.


Regardless of Bob's capabilities, the link between football and the unifying ability it obtains, can be no coincidence to the righteous words and positive preachings heard in the celestial songs he wrote and sang for us all.

For a man who enjoyed a joint as much as his football, it isn't surprising that the sport he adored so much eventually cost him his life, as the cancer he developed in his toe is believed to be from an injury he received while playing the game.  As his nickname suggests, Tuff Gong battled the cancer bravely, not allowing it to curtail his play time, and so continued to play often after his diagnosis, but he eventually succumbed to the disease on May 11, 1981.

We are since left with a vast assortment of Bob Marley's irie tunes and his ever conscious lessons and advice.  It is by no surprise that the iconic Bob, who was an avid expounder for peace and unity was a football lover like the rest of us.  One Love, Irie football.

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references

• http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/254/Bob_Marley-s_five-a-side_days-It_happened_here.html
• http://theleoafricanus.com/2008/03/27/bob-marley-was-a-big-ossie-ardiles-fan/
• http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/bob-marley-the-sport-of-soccer-natural-mystic-of-the-pitch/

Posted in: bob marley,football,irie,reggae