Should I Give Up School For Football?

Dear Auntie Betty,
I am a boy of 11 and in Primary Six. I want to be a footballer in future. I admire Micheal Essien so much that anytime he plays I picture myself in his position.

This has boosted my ego to pursue football as a profession.

I am good academically but I do not know whether I should stop schooling and pursue my interest in football.

Please guide me as to how to go about it.

Emmanuel, Komenda.

Dear Emmanuel,
You can be a footballer but you need to focus on your education first. Study hard and make sure you pass every examination very well.

You need to gain sound education which can get you some employment before you take football as a career. Playing football as a profession is good and it means you have to be one of the best in the game, but without education you will not get far, even in football.

A lot has changed in the world now and if you want to play football at that level you should be able to speak and write good English so as to understand any contract you enter into and grant interviews to international journalists.

If you leave school now you obviously can’t do that. Besides, you cannot play football all your life; you would have to retire at a point.

But even at that time you will need money to take care of yourself and your future family. It is at this point that you would need your qualification in another field.

Think seriously about this and continue to take your studies seriously. Be focused. Share Your Thoughts on this article Name Email Location Comments Graphic Ghana may edit your comments and not all comments will be published