Why are football role models important for children

The ‘Mohamed Salah Effect’: Why are football role models important for the children growing up in the Middle East

For young people in Egypt and the wider Middle East, Mohamed Salah is not only a football player but also an icon and a true role model. Coming from one of Egypt’s rural villages where most people live in poverty, Salah exemplifies the ideal of a young man who dreamed big but worked hard to achieve his dreams.

The importance of positive role models in sports motivates children and young players to be the best they can be; however, in the Middle East, it is often difficult to showcase professional players within the local communities. In Europe, America, and many other countries, sports players are heroes and play as role models to the nation, especially children. It is often the respect the

players gain by playing a sport well and overcoming boundaries to get to the elite status they have achieved.

Ali Mabkhout and Omar Abdulrahman: Amazing football players in the UAE

When names such as Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo are mentioned, excitement in children’s voices can be heard with the celebrity status of these players. However, the excitement also has our community’s underlying values, such as fair play, overcoming setbacks, and the story behind each player. Unfortunately, in the Middle East, players in football are not celebrated or held up to these high statuses, which is a shame. The Middle East has produced some amazing football players in the UAE, such as Ali Mabkhout and Omar Abdulrahman. However, they are not so widely identified in the media or as role model status. How do people identify with these elite players, and how do they help motivate a new generation of sports players?

How do kids identify with football heroes working towards their dreams?

In countries with high-profile players, there is enthusiasm from the nation of pride in belonging to a national identity or a similar culture. A child from Argentina or South America may be Messi or Ronaldo, as there is a connection of culture or perhaps the same setbacks. When players have hardships, such as Messi coming from a poor upbringing or overcoming medical problems as a child, it builds connections with children, especially from his own country. Many sports people that have been discovered have not made it overnight, often overcoming poverty, social status, illness, low social, economic status, and various other hurdles. However, this inspires future generations of players not to give up as they see their heroes as working towards their dreams.

In the Middle East, these stories are finally being untold. Already mentioned Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, who now plays for Liverpool, has been quoted after winning the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final: “I have sacrificed a lot for my career, to come from a village to go to Cairo, and to be an Egyptian at this level is unbelievable for me.”

Although we hear a lot about him in the Middle Eastern media, there are also many more players from the Middle East whose incredible stories could inspire and motivate people in this region about what is possible for them.

How successfully can football players help the local communities?

Another big factor is also how sports heroes positively influence their audience. Football players can be positive role models for a healthy lifestyle, fitness, perseverance, discipline, and encouraging people to be their best. Research has shown that having sporting idols to look up to gives children a sense of belonging with their peers as they are motivated to be like their role models, and the community is behind them. Often players visit schools or clubs for motivational purposes. Some players back up various sporting programs and promote sports in communities. Charity work and media interviews allow players to connect with an audience and share their ideas, lives, and personalities with the public. The Middle East could benefit as there are many clubs and sporting arenas that would also support the players, which may open opportunities for sponsorship or public recognition. In Middle Eastern countries like the UAE, with many nationalities, it is also an opportunity to celebrate diversity and support local clubs.

Journal of Adolescent Health: What’s found in research?

In 2011, a study in the ‘Journal of Adolescent Health’ showed that 59% of adolescents identified the role models they looked up to and impacted their lives as sporting personalities. This study also showed that children with positive sporting role models were more likely to make better health-related decisions. Children were likelier to participate in regular physical activity than spend copious amounts of time on games or television. Because of physical activity, these children had more friends and good social skills. The benefits also showed that children who followed their sporting role model had confidence and perseverance and generally did better in their education. Also, they had a positive attitude which positively affected the people around them, as playing sports taught teamwork and acceptance.