If you haven’t heard already, one of our generation’s greatest athletes, Kobe Bryant, is going to retire after the 2015-16 NBA season. Recognised all over the world as a fantastic basketball player, those who have read a little more about him will know of his notoriously relentless work ethic as he often hoisted shots and raised a hellish sweat at ungodly hours in the gym.

Moreover, it’s not often that we see such a hugely talented athlete spend almost his entire career, 20 years, with one team and spur them to giddying heights of success. The man has 2 Olympic gold medals, 5 NBA Championship rings with the Lakers, an NBA MVP along with SEVENTEEN NBA All-Star selections.

 

So you’re thinking, ‘That’s awesome, but what’s it got to do with grassroots football?!’ And we’d agree. Until, of course, you read this fantastic poem that Kobe wrote on his retirement. Goosebumps guaranteed on this clutch play!

In the end, no matter how big a superstar or how small a nobody, the truth is that it’s all about love for the game. When stripped of our tribalism, fan-tinted glasses, nationalism, biases and what have you, football, or any sport for that matter, boils down to passion.

As Kobe puts it in a way only he could, “I’ll always be that kid with the rolled up socks, garbage can in the corner, 5 seconds on the clock, ball in my hands. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1”

‘nough said