ningnangnong
19-05-07, 09:52 AM
Muhammad Ali once said ‘Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.’
This quote epitomizes the personality of Harry Kewell. A man who has been battling injury for the last three or four years of his career. Hailing from the small Sydney suburb of Smithfield, Kewell was fifteen when he was invited to England to trial for Leeds United. Such was his talent; he was subsequently offered a contract, one which he duly accepted. He went on to debut for Leeds at the age of 17, also making his first appearance for Australia in the same year. This was to be the beginning of an up and down career.
In his time at Leeds, Kewell established himself as one of the world’s finest players. He had it all. Pace, dribbling, heading, two footed, the list goes on. Whilst most of the abilities on that list will one day diminish, one will stick with him throughout his life. His desire. Desire is something that Kewell has in abundance. Ever since he signed for Liverpool in 2003, Kewell has fought the wrath of injury time and time again; this in turn has led to questions being asked of him from the media and Liverpool supporters themselves. It’s as if people think that he injures himself on purpose. They then bring up these conspiracy theories about how he seems to recover in time for a cup final, or an important game. A misconception caused by jealousy?
Harry Kewell is a fighter; his perseverance is what has kept him in football today. After facing what Kewell has in his career, an ordinary man would’ve given up, tried to sue someone, and made plenty of excuses. Not Harry Kewell, he won’t give up, and it all comes back to that key word, desire. Critics of Kewell don’t know half the story of what he has gone through just to get back on the paddock. It all went wrong for him halfway through his first season at Liverpool. Kewell got off to a blazing start, potting something like ten goals in the first half of the season. From then on in, is a time Kewell and Liverpool FC alike would rather forget.
I’m not going to delve into Harry Kewell’s injuries as I’m no physiotherapist, although the most common re-occurrence seems to be his troublesome groin. This has led to heartbreak for Kewell time and time again, infamously in the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan. At the time, that was the pinnacle of Kewell’s career, and to have it end twenty odd minutes into the match, with Liverpool losing would have been absolutely heartbreaking. Yet, despite this, many critics still felt the need to rip into Kewell. Kicking a man while he’s down if you will. How did Kewell respond? He came back the next season, and showed us what he’s capable of. After Australia beat Uruguay in their World cup qualifier, mainly due to Kewell’s form on the night, Kewell came back to Liverpool with extra zest. He forced Rafa Benitez’s hand and figured prominently for the rest of the season, also being a major contributor in the win over Chelsea at Old Trafford, booking a spot for Liverpool in the FA Cup Final. Once again though, Kewell was forced to leave the field in a cup final because of injury.
This wasn’t to be the end of the season though for Kewell. He still had his first World Cup to play, truly deserving for such a talented player. Kewell carried his seasons form into the World Cup, and scored the decisive goal for the Aussies in their 2-1 victory over Croatia, advancing them to the next round. After that game though, came a telling blow for Kewell. Injury had prevailed once again, and Kewell was to miss Australia’s next match against the Italian’s, and adding to his disappointment, Kewell was soon ruled out for the majority of the 2006/2007 English Premier League season. Surely his time had come, he couldn’t keep on fighting these persistent injuries, could he?
Kewell stretched his determination, and decided to fight the demons within him. Kewell has had more operations this season, then the amount of games he will play. Now his devotion is beginning to pay off, Kewell has a chance to claim a second Champions League Winners Medal, a feat unsurpassed by some of the games greatest players past and present.
Muhammad Ali was right. ‘Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.’
Thankyou Harry Kewell, for your continuing commitment to Liverpool FC.
This quote epitomizes the personality of Harry Kewell. A man who has been battling injury for the last three or four years of his career. Hailing from the small Sydney suburb of Smithfield, Kewell was fifteen when he was invited to England to trial for Leeds United. Such was his talent; he was subsequently offered a contract, one which he duly accepted. He went on to debut for Leeds at the age of 17, also making his first appearance for Australia in the same year. This was to be the beginning of an up and down career.
In his time at Leeds, Kewell established himself as one of the world’s finest players. He had it all. Pace, dribbling, heading, two footed, the list goes on. Whilst most of the abilities on that list will one day diminish, one will stick with him throughout his life. His desire. Desire is something that Kewell has in abundance. Ever since he signed for Liverpool in 2003, Kewell has fought the wrath of injury time and time again; this in turn has led to questions being asked of him from the media and Liverpool supporters themselves. It’s as if people think that he injures himself on purpose. They then bring up these conspiracy theories about how he seems to recover in time for a cup final, or an important game. A misconception caused by jealousy?
Harry Kewell is a fighter; his perseverance is what has kept him in football today. After facing what Kewell has in his career, an ordinary man would’ve given up, tried to sue someone, and made plenty of excuses. Not Harry Kewell, he won’t give up, and it all comes back to that key word, desire. Critics of Kewell don’t know half the story of what he has gone through just to get back on the paddock. It all went wrong for him halfway through his first season at Liverpool. Kewell got off to a blazing start, potting something like ten goals in the first half of the season. From then on in, is a time Kewell and Liverpool FC alike would rather forget.
I’m not going to delve into Harry Kewell’s injuries as I’m no physiotherapist, although the most common re-occurrence seems to be his troublesome groin. This has led to heartbreak for Kewell time and time again, infamously in the 2005 Champions League Final against AC Milan. At the time, that was the pinnacle of Kewell’s career, and to have it end twenty odd minutes into the match, with Liverpool losing would have been absolutely heartbreaking. Yet, despite this, many critics still felt the need to rip into Kewell. Kicking a man while he’s down if you will. How did Kewell respond? He came back the next season, and showed us what he’s capable of. After Australia beat Uruguay in their World cup qualifier, mainly due to Kewell’s form on the night, Kewell came back to Liverpool with extra zest. He forced Rafa Benitez’s hand and figured prominently for the rest of the season, also being a major contributor in the win over Chelsea at Old Trafford, booking a spot for Liverpool in the FA Cup Final. Once again though, Kewell was forced to leave the field in a cup final because of injury.
This wasn’t to be the end of the season though for Kewell. He still had his first World Cup to play, truly deserving for such a talented player. Kewell carried his seasons form into the World Cup, and scored the decisive goal for the Aussies in their 2-1 victory over Croatia, advancing them to the next round. After that game though, came a telling blow for Kewell. Injury had prevailed once again, and Kewell was to miss Australia’s next match against the Italian’s, and adding to his disappointment, Kewell was soon ruled out for the majority of the 2006/2007 English Premier League season. Surely his time had come, he couldn’t keep on fighting these persistent injuries, could he?
Kewell stretched his determination, and decided to fight the demons within him. Kewell has had more operations this season, then the amount of games he will play. Now his devotion is beginning to pay off, Kewell has a chance to claim a second Champions League Winners Medal, a feat unsurpassed by some of the games greatest players past and present.
Muhammad Ali was right. ‘Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.’
Thankyou Harry Kewell, for your continuing commitment to Liverpool FC.