We are now coming to the part of the season where West Ham United really need to put a run of games together to secure the Fourth Champions League spot. They began well when Jarrod Bowen’s fifth goal in five Premier League games put them in front after only 10 mins against a Leicester City side who have only won once in five outings.
Bowen is making his own claim for an England place ahead of the FIFA World Cup in November and after this performance, I might give Assistant Manager Steve Holland a call myself although I am pretty sure both he and Gareth Southgate are fully aware of Bowen’s contribution to this never say never West Ham team.
Leicester though came back with a penalty on the stroke of half-time literally in the 45th minute through Youri Tielemans to level the game and the Foxes came out for the second half following Brendan Rogers’ rousing team talk, I hear, which resulted in them taking the lead with Ricardo Pereira on target. But the Hammes grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time thanks to Craig Dawson.
As a youngster, playing for Senrab, Link, and Tiger FC – my boyhood teams in Stepney and Poplar in the 70s – we were told to play to the final whistle and that is exactly what this West Ham side are doing. In their FA Cup 4th Round tie against non – league Kidderminster Harriers they were given a run for their money right down to the wire but they edged it thanks to Declan Rice and Bowen. The Hammers followed up that win with another against struggling Watford and equalised in the 91st minute thanks to another Craig Dawson’s late strike.
But despite all the excitement on the pitch I have to mention the disgraceful incident with Kurt Zouma and his brother Yoan and their ill-treatment of Kurt’s pet cat.
What possessed him to act in this way against an animal and family pet? Even more worrying is why his brother Yoan filmed it and then posted something like this online knowing it would cause outrage and offence.
There is no excuse. It beggars belief to think that people act in this way (just like Boris Johnson and his partygate antics). When people like this get caught out they say ‘SORRY’ – but being sorry does not wash with many of us I am afraid.
West Ham United has and will always be known as the family community football club that built its foundations on empathy and that is what David Moyes is showing to Kurt Zouma by picking him to play, even though he has made a massive mistake but everyone deserves a second chance.
West Ham must be furious that one of their star players could do such a thing and drag their name into the ‘gutter’ because it affects everyone at the club including their sponsors and brand name around the world doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, there has always been a problem with professional footballers that make the wrong choices. I work in education and along with colleagues we are always saying to young people don’t make the wrong choices because if you do there will be consequences that you will not be able to control.
I hope Kurt and his brother Zouma are given a second chance to receive support with any issues which would be part of their rehabilitation process. I am hearing Kurt is very remorseful and disappointed that he has not just let the club and his family down but himself and all animals around the world.
So I will write to West Ham United myself to introduce a friend of mine, Carly Ahlen Founder and CEO at Gabo Wildlife, an amazing lady. Carly and her team are dedicated to the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of injured, orphaned, and distressed wildlife across the UK.
Gabo Wildlife is entirely self-funded and receives no government funding. Carly is passionate about changing people’s attitudes and behaviours towards wildlife and has offered this olive branch to both Kurt and Yoan.
With Kurt’s thousands of young and influential followers, the message he conveys is dangerous and highly concerning. The offer will be to come on a week’s rescue and rehabilitation of animals to teach him and his brother compassion and kindness which is the most important asset he can hold. Prison would not rehabilitate him or his brother; They need to learn to treat animal with respect and to realise that their actions has caused a lot of pain and has serious consequences.
https://directory.helpwildlife.co.uk/small-rescues/0455/
https://www.linkedin.com/compan/gabo-wildlife/
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