Remembering Bob Marley, the football fan

“Football is a whole skill to itself. A whole world. A whole universe to itself. Me love it because you have to be skilful to play it! Freedom! Football is freedom.” (Bob Marley – 1979)”

He played, watched and recorded. On every tour Bob Marley and the Wailers carried a football to play against other musicians, players, journalists or just local people.

It was actually a pre-requirement that Bob Marley had access to make shift football fields while on tour. He once decided not to do any interviews on a tour through Europe and his response was, “If you want to get to know me, you will have to play football against me and the Wailers”.

The little Rastafarian even took Jamaica’s greatest player of the 60s and 70s Allan “Skilly” Cole as part of the groups touring entourage.

He was effectively known as Bobs sporting advisor during tour matches, both had a great appreciation for football and also Jamaica’s finest hand rolled smoke.

Some reports indicate that if Bob Marley didn’t make it as an international reggae artist, that he was good enough to make it in professional football. If this part were true, I for one am glad that he chose a singing career over football.

He grew up in trench town and played football in the streets with other kids from the neighbourhood, just like his heroes, Pele and Ossie Ardiles. His favourite team was Santos of Brasil.

He had a dream to open a Jamaican Football Academy with the help of Brasilian, Paulo Cesar, whom he had met while touring South America. It didn’t eventuate with his sudden passing after the tour.

Bob Marley was the first third world superstar. He gave hope to the thousands living in poverty and oppression and preached it through his music. He was shot and wounded in his own home fighting for the cause.

It is no wonder that those closest to him say that he was happiest when playing football.

But why this obsession with football?

It may be the same reasons we love it, whether it be its skill, its symbolism to life itself, or the power of its political capabilities. Or maybe it was just Bob’s way of escaping into another world and not thinking but only for the moment. “Freedom, Football is Freedom”

In the late 70s it was discovered that Bob Marley had a cancerous condition after his toe nail was ripped off during a football match in London. Though he did receive treatment, he refused to have it removed, which may have prolonged his life.

As a football fan, its nice to know that there was a lot more to the legend Bob Marley than just artistic brilliance and timeless music.

Happy birthday Bob Marley, born on this day February sixth 1945. Your memory, your music and your passion lives on through all of us.