Bob Marley daughter’s heroic efforts revive Jamaica’s FIFA World Dream

• Cedella Marley, the daughter of the late world reggae icon Bob Marley loves football
• She helped save the Reggae Girlz when the squad disbanded in 2008
• They played Columbia on Tuesday in a test of luck to advance to the quarter-final but lost 1-0

Cedella Marley, the daughter of the late world reggae icon Bob Marley is at the heart of Jamaica football.

Thanks to her, the Jamaica national women’s football team dubbed the Reggae Girlz made it to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for a second time. She helped save the Reggae Girlz when the squad disbanded in 2008 by working tirelessly as an advocate and fundraiser for the group. The team didn’t disappoint her and made it to the round of 16.

They played Columbia on Tuesday in a test of luck to advance to the quarter-final but lost 1-0. The world is now appreciative of her deeds which garnered international interest with the 2023 Women’s World Cup. But it the Reggae Girlz who feels so indebted to her. Her efforts to rescue the Jamaican football team trace back to her younger days because she loved playing football more than anything else.

WHAT CLUB DID BOB MARLEY SUPPORT?

Bob Marley’s daughter Cedella Marley. Photo/Indian Express

The late Bob Marley was a staunch supporter of Tottenham Hotspur with his favourite player at the time being Ossie Ardiles. He was an Argentine midfielder who played for the Spurs from 1978 to 1988. Moreover, Marley was a fan of Brazilian club side Santos FC.

Bob Marley was a passionate fan of football. He loved the game for its freedom, its creativity, and its ability to bring people together. He often played football with his friends and family, and he even used it as a way to relax and de-stress from his busy life as a musician. Marley was a fan of Brazilian club side Santos FC, and he was also a supporter of English club Tottenham Hotspur. He was particularly fond of Argentine midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played for Spurs from 1978 to 1988.

During an interview in 1980, the Stir It Up singer describe the creativity behind football as the main reason for the love he has for the sport. Also, its uniting factor made him fall in love with the action on the pitch.

“Football is freedom. It’s the most beautiful game in the world. It’s a game for everyone, no matter what your race, your religion, or your background. It’s a game that brings people together,” he stated.

In his song War, he captures the beauty of fighting for victory in the field. His love for the game not only made him a global peace icon but it also inspired his children. Cedella Marley recalls growing up in a family where football was the first love besides music. She tells CNN that her father would have been a football player if he wasn’t a reggae musician.

He passed this on to his children and this is why Cedella came to the rescue of Jamaica football.

“Daddy played every day. He would play anywhere he was: on the road, you’d find a field, you’d find a team. I also watch my brothers, Ziggy and Steve. They played football growing up, too, and it was just always something that I loved. I love to kick a ball and was super competitive when my brothers would challenge me,” she recalls.

Cedella Marley. Photo/Hola

HOW GOOD WAS BOB MARLEY AT FOOTBALL?

Bob Marley, the reggae icon had a reputation of a very good footballer besides his alluring music. He was a midfielder known for his speed, dribbling skills, and passing skills. He was also a very aggressive player who wasn’t afraid to tackle. People close to him thought he was obsessed with football because he played daily even when on tour. It was a way for him to unwind and relax from the busy schedule of being a musician.

His identity was inextricably linked to Jamaica and his love for football: He earned the moniker “Tuff Gong” for his rough play on the field, and he even thought of playing the sport as a way to leave the run-down neighbourhood of Trench Town, Jamaica, where he was raised. While he never left because of music, his daughter took up the role of supporting Jamaica football to the best of her ability.

DOES JAMAICA HAVE A FIFA TEAM?

The Reggae Girlz represent Jamaica football as the official FIFA World Cup team. They made it to the Round of 16 in the 2023 World Cup. Their last Group match was against Columbia.