FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Bob Marley's daughter Cedella Marley takes Jamaican football to new heights. Here's how

In a historic turn of events, Jamaica has secured its first-ever point in the Women’s World Cup as its women’s national football team, a.k.a. Reggae Girlz, earned a goalless draw against giants France aka Les Bleues. For those unaware, this is Jamaica’s second participation at Women's World Cup, however, the first time didn’t turn out to be well as the Reggae Girlz lost all three games leading to a disappointment. However, four years later, the team has come out strong to outperform the previous efforts.

The credit should go where it's due and, Cedella Marley plays a significant role in changing the Jamaican football scenario on a larger scale. Being born to global icon Bob Marley who is to date listened to, grooved to and an inspiration to many, she has been closer to soccer. She recalls a conversation with dad Bob Marley who would say that had he not been a musician, he would be a soccer player. Now, this somewhere ignited the fire within her and kept soccer closer to her heart.

In an interview with CNN, she admitted that Bob Marley would play soccer every day – “on the road, you’d find a field, you’d find a team,” she describes. She also recalled football legend Pele who recently passed away and lived a G.O.A.T all his life. “The ball is round and always take the penalty.”


Things took a turn – and a turn-for-better, any football pundit would note. When in 2014, she took action after learning that the women's national team program had been disbanded due to underfunding. With her musical talents and fundraising efforts, including recording the song 'Strike Hard,' she raised $300,000 to restart the program. In 2019, her dedication paid off when Jamaica's women's team qualified for their first-ever Women's World Cup, marking a significant shift in attitudes towards women's football in Jamaica.

FAQs

Q1. What was the impact of Cedella Marley's fundraising efforts?
A1. Cedella Marley's fundraising efforts helped to raise $300,000 to restart the Jamaican women's national football program.

Q2. How did Cedella Marley's father, Bob Marley, influence her love of football?
A2. Bob Marley was a big football fan. He often played the game with his children. Cedella Marley has said that her father's love of football inspired her to get involved in the sport.