Geez
06-02-2010, 11:21 AM
By Henry Winter, D. Telegraph
Defender is doing his bit to repair football's tarnished reputation while trying to force his way into Capello's World Cup squad.
It was when the children spotted the food that Michael Dawson knew just how important his work was in South Africa.
The Spurs defender had just completed a coaching session in Rustenburg and it was time for lunch. “All the orphans got a beefburger and it was like they’d won the lottery, bless them,’’ recalled Dawson.
At a time when footballers are being widely maligned, here is an English centre-half and a captain of a London club who is a magnificent advertisement for his trade.
Dawson was so moved by what he saw in Rustenburg that he has assumed financial responsibility for an 11-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur House, part of the SOS Children’s Village complex. “I saw how little they had,’’ he added. “I did some coaching on pitches that were so bad it was scary.’’
Before kick-off against Aston Villa on Saturday, Dawson will help Spurs launch World Orphan Week, which seeks 1,000 people to join him in funding an orphan’s future. He is no stranger to campaigns in Africa, having worked on FA initiatives, so the public perception of footballers as self-obsessed wastrels irritates him.
“When a footballer does something wrong it is published in the papers, but a lot of footballers do good things, spending loads of time helping people,’’ he said.
The orphanage’s location is particularly pertinent. Rustenburg is where Fabio Capello has chosen to base his squad, where England open their World Cup crusade against USA.
“England have a friendly in March [against Egypt] and I hope I’ll be knocking on England’s door,’’ said the uncapped Dawson.
“It’s hard to say I will be going to the World Cup – and it’s hard to rule it out. There are top-class centre-halves in England: Rio [Ferdinand], John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Matthew Upson, Gary Cahill, and Phil Jagielka is coming back.
“Hopefully I can put something in the England manager’s head to get in the World Cup. He says he will pick on form. I am a better centre-half than a year ago. My confidence is high. When I go out on to the pitch, I don’t fear anyone.’’
Now 26, Dawson’s journey towards England contention has been helped by those who know what it is like to pull on the Three Lions shirt. His early years at Nottingham Forest were shaped by Des Walker.
“Des was a legend, who read the game brilliantly and was great to play alongside. When things were my fault, he’d put an arm around me, keep my confidence up.’’
Others also inspired him. “At 14, I looked up to Rio. He has pace, good on the ball. When I was in the youth team, John Terry came on loan to Forest and I watched him – the way he puts his body on the line. As a defender you’ve got to get your blocks and he’s a leader.
"When I signed for Spurs five years ago, I watched them play Portsmouth. Ledley (King) was unbelievable. I was thinking: 'How am I going to step up to the Premiership and play?’’
He has done with increasing authority. Harry Redknapp has not only handed Dawson a new four-year contract, but also the armband previously in King’s possession.
“The manager believes in me and that gives me an awful lot more confidence,’’ said Dawson, who reckons his daily test in training against “all different types of strikers’’ has accelerated his development.
“When they hang the ball up, [Peter] Crouch is bigger than me so he’s hard to play against. Jermain [Defoe] is so sharp in and around the box. He will get his shots off. Pav [Roman Pavlyuchenko] is a big strong lad. I don’t come up against many better players than them in the League.’’
Some impress him. “Wayne Rooney is a fighter with a great will to win and I always know I’ve been in a tough game. Didier Drogba is a big strong boy. I always know I’ll come off battered and bruised when I play him. He’s got quality as well. Fernando Torres is quick and strong. The list goes on … Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor.’’
Jermaine Beckford troubled him in the first Cup game against Leeds, winning a penalty when Dawson challenged him. “I’ve watched it back 25 times, probably more,’’ said Dawson. “When we concede, I never stop thinking about it. I was on the floor after that Leeds game. As much as the manager says we are an 'open’ team, and we do have lots of world-class flair players and we do play football that people want to watch, we have been a lot more solid than in the past. I just want a clean sheet.’’
Especially on Saturday. “Villa have a big, strong, direct team with pace – a good team. So are Liverpool and Manchester City. It’s a fight for fourth. And I’d never give up catching Arsenal [in third]. I want to test myself in the Champions League and reward our massive support.’’
Helping others comes easily to Dawson.
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SOS Children’s Villages is Tottenham Hotspur’s official global charity partner. In support of World Orphan Week Spurs is asking people of all ages to do something amazing and sponsor an orphan.
Tottenham Hotspur’s entire first team and management have backed the campaign and each has signed up to sponsor an orphan in one of three countries – Haiti, South Africa and China.
For information on how to sponsor a child visit www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor (http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor)
Defender is doing his bit to repair football's tarnished reputation while trying to force his way into Capello's World Cup squad.
It was when the children spotted the food that Michael Dawson knew just how important his work was in South Africa.
The Spurs defender had just completed a coaching session in Rustenburg and it was time for lunch. “All the orphans got a beefburger and it was like they’d won the lottery, bless them,’’ recalled Dawson.
At a time when footballers are being widely maligned, here is an English centre-half and a captain of a London club who is a magnificent advertisement for his trade.
Dawson was so moved by what he saw in Rustenburg that he has assumed financial responsibility for an 11-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur House, part of the SOS Children’s Village complex. “I saw how little they had,’’ he added. “I did some coaching on pitches that were so bad it was scary.’’
Before kick-off against Aston Villa on Saturday, Dawson will help Spurs launch World Orphan Week, which seeks 1,000 people to join him in funding an orphan’s future. He is no stranger to campaigns in Africa, having worked on FA initiatives, so the public perception of footballers as self-obsessed wastrels irritates him.
“When a footballer does something wrong it is published in the papers, but a lot of footballers do good things, spending loads of time helping people,’’ he said.
The orphanage’s location is particularly pertinent. Rustenburg is where Fabio Capello has chosen to base his squad, where England open their World Cup crusade against USA.
“England have a friendly in March [against Egypt] and I hope I’ll be knocking on England’s door,’’ said the uncapped Dawson.
“It’s hard to say I will be going to the World Cup – and it’s hard to rule it out. There are top-class centre-halves in England: Rio [Ferdinand], John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Matthew Upson, Gary Cahill, and Phil Jagielka is coming back.
“Hopefully I can put something in the England manager’s head to get in the World Cup. He says he will pick on form. I am a better centre-half than a year ago. My confidence is high. When I go out on to the pitch, I don’t fear anyone.’’
Now 26, Dawson’s journey towards England contention has been helped by those who know what it is like to pull on the Three Lions shirt. His early years at Nottingham Forest were shaped by Des Walker.
“Des was a legend, who read the game brilliantly and was great to play alongside. When things were my fault, he’d put an arm around me, keep my confidence up.’’
Others also inspired him. “At 14, I looked up to Rio. He has pace, good on the ball. When I was in the youth team, John Terry came on loan to Forest and I watched him – the way he puts his body on the line. As a defender you’ve got to get your blocks and he’s a leader.
"When I signed for Spurs five years ago, I watched them play Portsmouth. Ledley (King) was unbelievable. I was thinking: 'How am I going to step up to the Premiership and play?’’
He has done with increasing authority. Harry Redknapp has not only handed Dawson a new four-year contract, but also the armband previously in King’s possession.
“The manager believes in me and that gives me an awful lot more confidence,’’ said Dawson, who reckons his daily test in training against “all different types of strikers’’ has accelerated his development.
“When they hang the ball up, [Peter] Crouch is bigger than me so he’s hard to play against. Jermain [Defoe] is so sharp in and around the box. He will get his shots off. Pav [Roman Pavlyuchenko] is a big strong lad. I don’t come up against many better players than them in the League.’’
Some impress him. “Wayne Rooney is a fighter with a great will to win and I always know I’ve been in a tough game. Didier Drogba is a big strong boy. I always know I’ll come off battered and bruised when I play him. He’s got quality as well. Fernando Torres is quick and strong. The list goes on … Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor.’’
Jermaine Beckford troubled him in the first Cup game against Leeds, winning a penalty when Dawson challenged him. “I’ve watched it back 25 times, probably more,’’ said Dawson. “When we concede, I never stop thinking about it. I was on the floor after that Leeds game. As much as the manager says we are an 'open’ team, and we do have lots of world-class flair players and we do play football that people want to watch, we have been a lot more solid than in the past. I just want a clean sheet.’’
Especially on Saturday. “Villa have a big, strong, direct team with pace – a good team. So are Liverpool and Manchester City. It’s a fight for fourth. And I’d never give up catching Arsenal [in third]. I want to test myself in the Champions League and reward our massive support.’’
Helping others comes easily to Dawson.
--------
SOS Children’s Villages is Tottenham Hotspur’s official global charity partner. In support of World Orphan Week Spurs is asking people of all ages to do something amazing and sponsor an orphan.
Tottenham Hotspur’s entire first team and management have backed the campaign and each has signed up to sponsor an orphan in one of three countries – Haiti, South Africa and China.
For information on how to sponsor a child visit www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor (http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sponsor)