VMC’s Steve Williams takes a break from Euro 2012 to talk about a star player who would grace any international tournament…
The term ‘legend’ is used loosely in the world of football and usually only in regard to a player’s exploits on the pitch. I would argue that for true legendary status a footballer has to demonstrate a range of success and involvement far beyond the football pitch, as well as being a top class player in his own right. As such, true ‘legends’ are a rare being in the high octane world of top level football but can be recognised by their range of talents, by their attitudes and by their approach to life, which is often in marked contrast to many of their colleagues, who can more often make the news for the wrong reasons.
One such person is Vincent Kompany, who in my view is already a true legend of Manchester City and maybe in the future will become a legend of world football. So let’s look at the multi-talented skills and the exemplary attitudes of Vincent Kompany which in my view justify his elevation into the very small club of ‘true football legends.’
As a FOOTBALLER, he is a top class player and in the 2011-12 English Premiership season was voted Premiership Player of the Season. He has won the FA Cup and the Premier League Championship in the last two years with his club side and is a regular international player for his native Belgium. In a team of international stars at Manchester City he has time and time again proved himself to be the rock of the side and is one of the few players that is never rotated, due to the level of his contribution and his consistency.
As a CAPTAIN he has proved an inspirational leader for Manchester City and has been clearly accepted in that role by his mega star colleagues. As captain he has had to deal with many difficulties but has acted in a clear and consistent manner. Equally when called upon to speak for the team he has achieved this in an articulate and dignified manner which has brought great credit onto himself and his club. In the 2012 close season he was sent by the club on a solo visit to the Far East to represent Manchester City in that important global market, in advance of the team’s pre- season matches there. He proved more than equal to the task and his trip was a great success and demonstrated his public relations skills, his cultural sensitivity, his intelligence, his maturity and his ambassadorial skills. The club had total confidence in him performing the role, with little obvious assistance; a feat that would be beyond most other Premiership footballers.
As a ROLE MODEL he clearly has high personal standards and additionally associates himself with his adopted city of Manchester. As such he does not just see his position as a footballer with Manchester City as either transitory or one dimensional. He is married to a Mancunian lady and has enrolled at the prestigious Manchester Business School, where he is taking a part time Business Masters course. His life is wider than just turning up for training, idling away his spare time on video games and the golf course and then moving onto the next pay day. He has clearly associated himself with Manchester and with the project that is Manchester City, which has far more dimensions than those solely related to the football pitch.
As a HUMANITARIAN, he is a person who wishes to use his position to do good works for those not as fortunate as himself. He is a FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages and is particularly active in giving time and money to disadvantaged children in the Congo, the country of his father’s birth. He is equally active in charities supported by Manchester City and in the City in the Community schemes.
It is clear to me that Vincent Kompany is not only a top class footballer but is in addition an inspirational captain, a true role model and a humanitarian who contributes a great deal off the pitch, as well as on it. Manchester City and all who are associated with the club should be truly delighted at his contribution to both, as this reflects superbly on the club, as well as on him as a person. Vincent Kompny, in my book you are already a legend and may you go on to greater and greater success in the future, both on and off the football pitch.
VK CITY FACTFILE:
Signed from Hamburg 22nd August 2008,
£6,000,000.
169 League and Cup Appearances, 6 goals.
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times East Manchester
Fri 27 July Arsenal, Birds Nest Stadium, Beijing, Friendly
Su 12 August, Chelsea, Villa Park, Community Shield
Sa 18 August, To Be Confirmed, PL
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES:
The 2012/13 Premier League season will kick off on Saturday, 18th August 2012. The Fixtures will be announced on Monday, 18th June, with the first set of television picks selected approximately 2-3 weeks later.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES:
The draw for the 2012/13 Champions League Group Stage will take place in Monaco on Thursday, 30th August. The opening round of games will kick off in the week commencing Monday, 17th September.
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