Temple University Athletics
Temple University Men’s Soccer Player Finds Inspiration Overseas When Standing up to Racism
2.11.21 | Men's Soccer
"WHY ALWAYS ME?" is what the shirt read when then Manchester City player, Mario Balotelli, lifted up his jersey after scoring a goal against Manchester United. The shirt was a statement directly to those who harassed him on and off the pitch.
"You know, he doesn't put up with it," Temple University men's soccer redshirt freshman, Manny Ikeocha said. "And I think a lot of times about how he gets a bad rep for saying what he believes in. People are often saying 'no he shouldn't have acted like that'. But, you know, it's the behaviors that are directed towards him that are unacceptable and he doesn't take it."
Balotelli's refusal to accept the racist behaviors in his life and actions to speak out against it are something that Ikeocha aims to emulate in his own life.
"It has to be a vital part of my character because growing up as a black man in the United States you experience a lot of things, you see a lot of things, and there's no room to allow those certain things to continue," Ikeocha said.
Ikeocha sees Black History Month as an opportunity to continue to speak on the importance of black lives.
"I think the importance of Black History Month is understanding that black lives, black creativity, black artists, black people, are essential, just like everybody else, but have not been treated as such," Ikeocha said.
For Ikeocha though, Black role models have to understand that the work they do is not always for them but for future generations. It is a situation that he understands not only in the work Balotelli has done, but with the legacy Ikeocha hopes to leave behind.
"So, Balotelli standing up to injustice in a place where he is truthfully outnumbered in the way that people think and in people who look like him; but continuingly standing up, paves the path for other players that will be in his position in the future," Ikeocha said.
To Ikeocha being a black athlete only heightens the importance of also choosing to be a role model because of the added attention that comes with the profession.
"Where I'm at now, I am a soccer player and I'm also student, but more I'm a human being that will use my platform to better the world and the environment around me," Ikeocha said.
It's a philosophy that Ikeocha has put to action in his work with Owls for Justice, a student-athlete organization of which Ikeocha is a founding member. Since its founding in June 2020 the organization has worked on actionable steps to combat social injustice. One of the major initiatives for Owls for Justice in the Fall 2020 semester was a voting initiative campaign where they partnered with vote.org to help with registering to vote, verifying voter registration, and helping with voting initiatives in the athletic department and at Temple. Additionally, they ran panels to educate Temple's student-athletes about the importance of voting and that every vote matters. That voting initiative is just one of the things Owls for Justice has done and according to Ikeocha there is a lot more to come from the organization.
Ikeocha hopes to leave behind a legacy that goes beyond his time playing soccer.
"I hope to leave personally a legacy that is defined by perseverance, by love, inclusion, and social justice," Ikeocha said. "I feel as though we have to inspire those behind us to create a better future for tomorrow. So, I truly work every day, the hardest I can, to not only be the best at my sport, but to be the best person that I can be so that others can look up to me and make this world a better place."
For Ikeocha achieving a better world starts with being taught to love.
"If we're taught to hate, we can be taught to love, and it makes all our lives easier on every front. If we understand that and then we start to move with grace and mercy in our hearts and more importantly, people should move with love" Ikeocha said.
"You know, he doesn't put up with it," Temple University men's soccer redshirt freshman, Manny Ikeocha said. "And I think a lot of times about how he gets a bad rep for saying what he believes in. People are often saying 'no he shouldn't have acted like that'. But, you know, it's the behaviors that are directed towards him that are unacceptable and he doesn't take it."
Balotelli's refusal to accept the racist behaviors in his life and actions to speak out against it are something that Ikeocha aims to emulate in his own life.
"It has to be a vital part of my character because growing up as a black man in the United States you experience a lot of things, you see a lot of things, and there's no room to allow those certain things to continue," Ikeocha said.
Ikeocha sees Black History Month as an opportunity to continue to speak on the importance of black lives.
"I think the importance of Black History Month is understanding that black lives, black creativity, black artists, black people, are essential, just like everybody else, but have not been treated as such," Ikeocha said.
For Ikeocha though, Black role models have to understand that the work they do is not always for them but for future generations. It is a situation that he understands not only in the work Balotelli has done, but with the legacy Ikeocha hopes to leave behind.
"So, Balotelli standing up to injustice in a place where he is truthfully outnumbered in the way that people think and in people who look like him; but continuingly standing up, paves the path for other players that will be in his position in the future," Ikeocha said.
To Ikeocha being a black athlete only heightens the importance of also choosing to be a role model because of the added attention that comes with the profession.
"Where I'm at now, I am a soccer player and I'm also student, but more I'm a human being that will use my platform to better the world and the environment around me," Ikeocha said.
It's a philosophy that Ikeocha has put to action in his work with Owls for Justice, a student-athlete organization of which Ikeocha is a founding member. Since its founding in June 2020 the organization has worked on actionable steps to combat social injustice. One of the major initiatives for Owls for Justice in the Fall 2020 semester was a voting initiative campaign where they partnered with vote.org to help with registering to vote, verifying voter registration, and helping with voting initiatives in the athletic department and at Temple. Additionally, they ran panels to educate Temple's student-athletes about the importance of voting and that every vote matters. That voting initiative is just one of the things Owls for Justice has done and according to Ikeocha there is a lot more to come from the organization.
Ikeocha hopes to leave behind a legacy that goes beyond his time playing soccer.
"I hope to leave personally a legacy that is defined by perseverance, by love, inclusion, and social justice," Ikeocha said. "I feel as though we have to inspire those behind us to create a better future for tomorrow. So, I truly work every day, the hardest I can, to not only be the best at my sport, but to be the best person that I can be so that others can look up to me and make this world a better place."
For Ikeocha achieving a better world starts with being taught to love.
"If we're taught to hate, we can be taught to love, and it makes all our lives easier on every front. If we understand that and then we start to move with grace and mercy in our hearts and more importantly, people should move with love" Ikeocha said.
Players Mentioned
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