Thursday December 13, 2007
Rooney the student
Footballers who read? They do exist!
LONDON LOG by CHOI TUCK WO
Learning, as we all know, is a lifelong process. From the cradle to the grave, we never stop seeking knowledge or new skills.
In fact, the quest for knowledge knows no bounds; even the richest and most powerful can bear testimony to that.
The recent news of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney going all intellectual has set tongues wagging in sports circles. Despite his lucrative multi-million pound football career, the 22-year-old England striker still saw the merits of studying for his GCSE examination. Instead of chasing the ball all the time, he is now catching up on his studies, according to Britain’s largest-selling tabloid, The Sun.
Among other intellectual pursuits, Rooney is said to be taking private tuition at home to prepare for his exam and is learning to play the guitar. It’s a lesson well learnt for one of the country’s highest-paid footballers, who had never seen the need for paper qualifications as a teenage prodigy.
With strong encouragement from his girlfriend Coleen – who passed her GCSE with flying colours – it’s no wonder Rooney is starting to take books seriously. Well, scoring goals may be second nature to the prolific striker, but scoring good grades could be a major hurdle for him.
His effort is a shining example for thousands of his fans, who look up to him for inspiration.
Indeed, Rooney’s back-to-school move could be a strong motivating factor for those youths who might have neglected their studies in favour of football. As for his new leisure interest, learning the guitar may help calm the football star, who is known for being temperamental, on and off the field.
There have been numerous rags-to-riches stories about the poor making big bucks through their own talents and sheer hard work in businesses or career. Admittedly, some may not even have completed secondary school, let alone higher education. But they still make it to the top.
For them, as well as for Rooney, it’s a new ball game when it comes to quenching their thirst for knowledge or skills in the later part of their lives.
But it’s certainly worth the effort. For wisdom usually comes from sound knowledge and experience, whether it’s in the boardroom or on the sports field.
RSS
