Be agents of change, Sharks midfielder Yidah tells fellow footballers

Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Sven Yidah has issued a rallying call to his fellow KPL footballers to take advantage of the ‘break’ in sporting activities occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic to improve on their skill set – on matters beyond the football pitch and also act as change agents in the society.

The holding midfielder added that the pandemic should offer vital lessons to his fellow footballers.

“Personally, I have taken it as a reminder that our careers are very unpredictable especially for us the local players.

You could wake up one day and find that you cannot play football anymore. Maybe because of injury, or you are unlawfully axed from your team or many other factors beyond your control.

If football is your only source of livelihood, one day everything could just change without warning,” said Sven.

He went on: “Who are we without football? How prepared are we to live when we cannot play anymore? Our careers cannot definitely last forever.”

According to Yidah, the pandemic has presented a ‘reflection moment’ for footballers hence an opportunity to learn new things and be ‘active agents of change’ in the society.

“Let us also look for ways we can use our popularity in the hood to uplift our communities.  It must not be monetary assistance. It’s about how you impact those 100 or 200 or 1000 people that look up to you.

Everyone in every other sector has been caught flat foot. So it’s a good time to rethink. It’s just like how we get ourselves into shape during pre-season.  We must get ourselves in shape for life outside football. This is the pre-season of our lives. We have a lot of time on our hands.”

He also highlighted the importance of speaking out adding that “When football returns, it will come with uncertainty.”

“For others it will be the good news of getting new or improved deals while for other is will be the sad news of losing your job. Let our reaction be positive. Let us talk to each other as players on how we can change and how we can help others also change.