Personal Statement
From the tender age of four, football stole my heart and helped shape the person I am today. Growing up in Kenya, I faced numerous obstacles in pursuing my passion. Limited resources and training facilities were just a few of the challenges I encountered. However, I remained undeterred and worked tirelessly, both independently and with dedicated coaches and technical experts, to improve my skills. Through my dedication, I can proudly say that I have become the best player I can be. Football is more than just a game; it's a way of life. It teaches us essential values like discipline, teamwork, and resilience that are valuable not only in the field but also in everyday life. Football has instilled in me the importance of perseverance, pushing through tough times, and striving for excellence.
Moreover, during This World Cup, I participated in a program called Generation Amazing, which is a movement of youth advocates, coaches, volunteers, star players and participants who care about achieving one goal: using football to empower the youth and improve our world.
Being a part of this group of youth that works to achieve positive social change in our communities using the transformative power of football, made me realise how vital and pertinent football is and can be. Generation Amazing uses transferable football skills to empower a generation of change-makers and their communities. Moreover, they inspire those less privileged communities worldwide and help avail an equal playing field for all.
Their mission is to use this program under the global organisation FIFA to transform less fortunate communities, spread the message of inclusion, and drive social change.
For this year's event, I was privileged to be among the chosen few students from Qatar. We participated in various interactive workshops, informative lectures from visiting professors and motivational speeches from FIFA ambassadors such as David Beckham.
The FIFA President Gianni Infantino, our guest of honour, inspired us to change our world. In addition, a mini World Cup tournament that included students from Mexico to Cameroon was organised. The tournament was a simulation aimed to emulate the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 that was set to kick off the following week. Hence teams were randomly allocated, and a broad mix of all the students formed the different teams. During this tournament, we played a total of 7 matches, my team reached the finals, and it came down to the wire - where the winner was ultimately going to be based on penalties. I scored two goals that led to us winning the tournament 5-4. The 5-day programme allowed me to connect and interact with different people throughout Qatar and the world and learn more about their culture and tradition.
This program gave me an insight into modern-day issues in our different societies and how they can be countered through football and sports. Encouraging women to participate in sporting activities like football enhances inclusivity and minimises gender stereotyping. It brings people together, educating myself and the upcoming generation about how football is more than just a game. The eventful programme left me with lasting memories - from the warm hospitality we received, new people and lasting friendships we made, mentoring coaches I met along the way and, more importantly, understanding the value of football in aiding the less fortunate and opening new doors that can lead to a prosperous future generation.
I am confident that with the proper guidance and training, I have what it takes to succeed as a professional footballer. My ambition is to make a name for myself and achieve my goals on and off the pitch
Sincerely,
Dahir Webby
