Bob Marley’s daughter helped Jamaica’s women’s team reach the World Cup

This Wednesday, the 2nd, the Jamaican team eliminated Brazil from the group stage of the Women’s Football World Cup, after a 0-0 draw. The team’s achievement of advancing to the round of 16 of the competition had the help in Cedella Marleydaughter of one of the greatest artists in the history of music, Bob Marley.

It all started in 2008, when the Jamaica Football Federation decided to disband the team. And it was only in 2014 that it was restarted and Skip Marley, Cedella’s son, took home a pamphlet on the subject from school. The note asked for cash assistance to prevent the team from interrupting activities again. “Support the Reggae Girlz”it was written.

It was then that Cedella and his brothers, Damian It is Stephenrecorded the song Strike Hard, in order to raise funds that would be used to invest in Jamaican athletes. With a total of US$ 300 thousand with the help of an online crowdfunding, the singer became an ambassador for the women’s team, accompanied by Bob Marley Foundationan NGO created in 1986 by Rita Marley.

Bob said that the ‘football is freedom’and, inspired by this phrase, Cedella Marley created the Football Is Freedom, to be able to help women’s football in the Caribbean, Latin America and in some communities in the United States. During an interview with Globe Sportsthe artist spoke about the subject.

“Through football, they are free to have an education, a chance to improve their lives, but also those of their families and communities. Football means freedom from ideas and outdated customs that want to prevent people from living their dreams.”he said.

Even with the support of the daughter of the country’s greatest artist, the Jamaican national team players suffer greatly from the lack of support from their own federation, which causes delays in salaries and the lack of travel assistance, among other problems.