Meeting a personal hero, as we are sometimes lucky enough to in this line of work, only to discover that they are not quite as tall/clever/goodlooking/sincere as you had always belived them to be can put you in a funk for days. Discovering that they are in fact vain/rude/big-headed is so much worse. Happily there’s a flip side. On meeting someone you expected to be big-headed, vain, and well, not too bright, only to discover that they are in fact charming, level headed and committed to many of the same things as yourself can give you a bounce that last for days.
This was the case when I attended a reception hosted by the excellent and inspiring Glenys Kinnock on behalf of Bono’s anti-poverty ONE coalition. Also speaking was captian of the South African footie team, Aaron Mokoena, currently signed to Portsmouth. Aaron, who is backing the One-Goal campaign to ensure every African child receives an education was not only charmingly articulate but also suprisingly, endearingly humble, and a million miles from the tabloid sterotype of a modern premier league footballer, this despite the fact that Pompey have suffered the worst start to the football season in the history of football, anywhere, ever. Please sign up to the One Goal campaign and visit www.aaronmokoenafoundation.com to see how you can make Aaron’s dream a reality. Something that is a step closer today following GB’s announcement that 0.7 % GDP must be given in aid in perpetuity. Rock on!!
On the subject of high-end sports stars the next time I bump into Chris Eubanks, who has been popping in and out of conference all week ‘just doin’ my own thing’ I shall wear a gauntlet, if not a boxing glove. Chris has the kind of handshake you can actually hear. Ouch. Perhaps he’s still sore at the memory of how I once trounced him at the Scalectrix Grand Prix!
