Players Views

Patrick Kluivert

The Netherlands

Were you born in Amsterdam?
Yes

Amsterdam is a multicultural city so was there racism in school?

Yes there was some racism in school, but I tried not to hear it. There are always few people who are racist. It's something you have to take, it can make you get aggressive when you really don’t want to.

When you first got it when you were younger, did you go to your mum or dad for help for example?
Yes sure, if something is happening to you, go to your parents and talk about it.

What would your advice be to a young person who is receiving racism in the classroom?
Try to talk to the one doing those sorts of things to you. Try to talk to the teacher or headmaster. and with your parents. Also talk to the parents of the person who is doing the racial things to you.

What do you think makes somebody racist?
Maybe their background. People may encourage them to do that sort of thing. Most of the time it's small groups of people,it is a pity because it's small minded. I hope in the future racism is going to go away.

If peer pressure was placed on one of your friends to be racist. What would your advice be to that person?
I would ask what will be achieved with it. Does it make him happy or does he just want to do it to be part of the group.

You have grown up in a multicultural society, has it benefited Dutch culture?
Holland is a multicultural country; we have all kinds of nationalities over there. So in Holland, racism is not so powerful. Sure you have groups, but the more nationalities you have, the less racism you have I think.

We want to know some of your role models and heroes; I can see you're wearing Muhammad Ali t-shirt
Yes he is my role model; he is someone I admired when he was a boxer, a great person.

Do you have any other role models?
Yes my mum is a role model for me, also Martin Luther King. The Dalai Lama I think is a role model.

Who is the greatest footballer of all time?
Marco Van Baston

Who is your current favourite footballer?
Zinadine Zidane

Do you have any other people you admire?
I admire my first trainer, Louis Van Gaal. He brought me into the first team at Ajax then all of a sudden I played for Milan. He took me from Milan to Barcelona. I admire him a lot.

What is your favourite book?
My favourite book is ‘the art of happiness’ by the Dalai Lama.

Who is your favourite actor or actress?
Al Pacino.

Have you any messages to young people affected by racism, both for the victim and the perpetrators, the victim first?
Be who you want to be, be real.

The person giving the racism, your message to them?
Do not do it, just do not do it. Because no one gets better from it.