DELE ALLI has gone from a crass coronavirus chump to the fella you can rely on in a crisis.
What a difference a couple of months make!
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Dele Alli keeping himself busy in the lockdown by exercising, making a cake on his birthday and playing Twister
There is nothing like a global pandemic and national lockdown to bring out the best in people – and we have certainly seen that with Dele.
The Tottenham ace was rightly charged with misconduct by the FA in February for a social media posting which poked fun at coronavirus and
an Asian man. It was insensitive and probably racist.
Dele apologised and is still awaiting the outcome of his response.
But it is hard to believe it was the same star, who is today checking on his young team-mates to ensure they are keeping well during the lockdown, while heavily backing a charity which provides breakfasts to thousands of kids each weekday during the crisis.
Not bad for someone who, like of all us, is finding the current crisis strange and tough to deal with.
He admitted: “It’s been difficult. This is the longest I’ve had off from the training ground and not training.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been a good break because it was unexpected. But I’ve been missing playing, so I’m just trying to find ways to keep myself entertained and fit.”
Dele turned 24 earlier this month and the lockdown meant he had to celebrate on his own, with only Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho and his coaches waving at him from across the road for fun.
The midfielder posted a photo of himself on social media cooking himself a burger on his barbecue as a treat.
He said: “Being stuck at home on your birthday isn’t the most ideal thing, but I made as much fun of it as I could.
“It was a little bit of fun, I tried to keep it light-hearted!”
Dele has been taking part in a daily training session with the Spurs squad via video link.
In an interview with Sky Sports he said: “We’ve been doing a zoom session every morning at 11, which is good because it keeps us in a routine.
“It means you have to get up early, eat well and do those sessions, which have been tough but also good as you get to see the boys every day.
“It’s the whole team and the support staff who take the session and everyone follows on the treadmill or using the gym equipment the club sent to our houses.
“No one has been in this situation before, it’s tough for everyone to deal with, everyone is in the same boat. I think it is great that people are using social media and different platforms to find ways to try and help anyway they can.
“Whether it be entertaining people or helping people try and staff healthy with different workout routines, in this situation it’s important to keep your health up and keep on a good track.”
Mentor is not always a term that has been associated with Dele – a streak of the devil seems to run through his competitive veins.
It has resulted in several bans and FA raps during his career.
But he has shown his maturity and nicer side by keeping an eye out for his younger team-mates during the current lockdown.
He said: “As a more experienced player, I’ve been speaking to the younger lads and just making sure they are alright.
“Even for myself, speaking to other people and trying to make sure I’m not in my little bubble here and that I reach out and communicate with other people.”
And while Dele may have to settle for a BBQ burger for one, his support of the Magic Breakfast charity means many underprivileged kids still get a healthy meal at the start of the day.
The good cause provides nourishing breakfasts to over 48,400 children in the UK every school day.
The millionaire star, who grew up on a council estate in Milton Keynes, has clearly not forgotten his roots.
He said: “As players we do a lot of things that maybe doesn’t get publicised, I’m doing things to help other people that I wouldn’t publicise myself.
“We’re in a situation where we can help, be that through raising awareness by using our platforms. We know we are such role models and a lot of people look up to us, so we have to help as much as we can.
“Magic Breakfast is an amazing charity, the work they are doing is amazing.
“Situations like this have made me realise how difficult it is for them to keep it up, so I wanted to help as much as I could with donations and trying to raise awareness about it.
“They are feeding kids, kids that are in schools and need it – it’s something that I relied on when I was younger, free school meals – but they are taking that a step further.
“With so many kids not at school it’s made their job a lot more difficult, but they are still helping the kids.”
Tottenham midfielder Dele Ali shows off incredible house & home cinema while on lockdown
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
