David Beckham is remembered for many things, including captaining the England national football team and winning trophies (the Champions League and league titles in England, Spain, France and the US, among others). But these days, the former free-kick specialist has responsibilities of a different sort.
The 39-year-old father to three boys (Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz) and one girl (Harper) admits to feeling like a “taxi driver”. He elaborated: “I take my children to school in the mornings, pick them up in the afternoons, take them to football practice, take them to ballet classes. So at the moment, I’m constantly in a car driving them everywhere, which I love.”
Sporting a full beard and a dapper suit, Beckham addressed the media and beneficiaries from the Sands for Singapore corporate social responsibility programme at the Marina Bay Sands event plaza on Saturday 14 June.
He conducted a football clinic with 90 young athletes from SportsCares Singapore, Special Olympics, Deaf Sports Association and Bedok Youth Society for the Disabled – many of whom were the same age as his own children.
Among the athletes were underprivileged youth, youth-at-risk, and people with disabilities such as those with cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and hearing impairment.
He advised them to “enjoy yourself, live your dream and work hard, but have a passion. It’s one of the things I tell my children”.
Despite playing football for most of his life in a career spanning 21 years, he counts charity work among his passions. He said: “I know a lot of people say that, but it’s something that gives me a lot of happiness.”
He donated a signed pair of one of his own trademark football boots to a charity auction that will raise money for charities in Singapore. Beckham revealed that his boots have always been very special to him.
“They’ve always been personalised with my childrens’ names and wife’s (Victoria Beckham) initials. It’s one of the reasons I had to retire, because I was running out of space on my boots!” he joked.
The donated pair, the Adidas Predator LZ DB cleats, were made in hot pink “when I had my little girl, so the pink was for her”, he revealed.
The autographed boots, which come with a starting bid of US$1,000 (S$1,250), can be viewed on the walk towards the foodcourt and ice skating rink at the Marina Bay Sands Shoppes. Other items on display, that have also been put up for auction, are Manchester United and Manchester City jerseys that were signed by Rio Ferdinand and Sergio Aguero respectively, as well as three items from Victoria Beckham’s clothing line. They are among a list of celebrities who have contributed items to the auction.
Bids may be made via the Marina Bay Sands Facebook page until 1 August 2014.
Beatrice Tan and Vanessa Emily
