Footballers have to overcome adversity to play at the pinnacle of the sport. However, for Jamaican international and Clermont Foot striker Shamar Nicholson, the hardship he had to overcome was the loss of his father in 2015.
Moving to Clermont allowed Shamar Nicholson to realize his dream, making debut in one of Europe's top five leagues. Nonetheless, there was a moment in his life when this pivotal career move seemed unlikely. Following the tragic murder of the Jamaican forward's father in 2015, football was the furthest thing from his mind.
In an interview with So Foot last month, Nicholson disclosed when he distanced himself from football after his father's death and navigated a challenging path that could have led him astray.
"At that moment, I was at rock bottom, and I quit soccer. My father was my idol; I admired him. It's tough to have positive thoughts when you lose someone you love. He didn't have the chance to see me play at the highest level."
"When he was killed, all I could think about was revenge. Violence was building up in me, and I was hanging out with the wrong people. I considered doing bad things, like killing people. But my family was there; they didn't let me spiral into that cycle."
Instead of going down the wrong path, Nicholson noted that he wanted to pursue his dreams and didn't want to cause any trouble for his mother. Additionally, he wanted to set an example for others who might view his journey as a source of inspiration.
"I took the right path—the one to pursue my dream of becoming a footballer. I caused a lot of trouble for my mother when I was young. Even before my father's death, I was a troublemaker. I was looking for fights, getting into conflicts with other young people, and people would complain to my mother. I changed, and I am proud because many children may be able to identify with my journey."
Despite facing significant challenges and coming close to giving up on football, Nicholson turned adversity into motivation, using it as the driving force to achieve his dream of playing football in Europe.
"It gave me something extra -- I was totally focused on football. No distractions. I decided to make all the necessary sacrifices to become a professional abroad."
"I could have gone to MLS, but I chose Domzale. When I was young, I used to watch the Premier League and sometimes Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga. Not MLS. My dream was Europe, not the United States."
Nicholson is now hitting his stride in Ligue 1, showcasing impressive form in his recent performances. Over the course of his last two league matches, he has notched two goals and contributed one assist, helping his team stay in what looks to be a closely fought battle for survival.
