He played in a World Cup, led another in Argentina, and now he sleeps on the street

He went from being a star in Canada to sleeping in the suburbs of his nation due to his drug addiction. Who is she? Sight.

Canadian Paul John James lived almost as long as a person could live . He touched the sky with his hands when as a footballer he was able to play the first World Cup in the history of his country (Mexico 1986) and he also knew how to hit rock bottom when he fell into total poverty and went to live on the street because of drugs.

Emerged soccer player in the Toronto Blizzard, James played 47 matches for the Canadian team and started all three matches in the group stage of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico , which marked his country's debut in World Cup history. Additionally, as a coach, he helped his compatriots under-20 women win a Concacaf title and participate in the 2011 Under-20 World Cup, held in Argentina.

With his face on the "wall of fame" at Whitchurch High School, everyone would think the former footballer's present is successful. However, the man was unemployed for the last 13 years and without a permanent home for the last six.

In fact, he traveled to the United Kingdom just before the pandemic , angered by the terrible treatment he received in his country, where he was discriminated against for using cocaine.

" If you want to know what the look of contempt and utter disgust looks like, do this . But if you want to see moments of incredible kindness and humanity, do this too," Paul told The Mail.

A few months ago, the former player knew how to sleep on the streets of Toronto and, also, on pieces of cardboard in Charing Cross or Westminster Cathedral. However, currently, he found refuge in a hostel near Holborn.

Regarding the reasons for his arrival on British soil, the former midfielder said: "To regain independence from the metaphorical prison condemned as innocent for thirteen lost years, not by the United Kingdom to whom I feel indebted, but by Canada as a nation To find and rekindle the passion, enthusiasm and positivity that I once had. And, on top of it all, to find an avenue to connect with people ."

Also, nowadays, James begs for alms in the suburbs of Embankment, Piccadilly and the Strand . With this action, he seeks "to be able to recover a semblance of normalcy . To be able to wear my own clothes and shoes and not second-hand ones. Not having to raise funds to buy my own items."

What's more, when someone stops to talk, he gives them his email address and asks them to Google his name , although few actually contact him afterwards to help him.

How did it fall so drastically?

Paul John James' terrible downfall was due to the stigma he endured for using cocaine, a drug he was introduced to in 1998 and addicted to for the decade after.

" I couldn't connect with anyone, to find an intimate partner in my life . Substance, and overwork, replaced that," said the former soccer player.

" I don't think you should call anyone a drug addict or crack addict. The words evoke irrationality and a series of labels that see those exposed as: criminal, scary, unreasonable, unreliable, to be avoided, sick, loser, dirty, lazy , scum, unemployable. Can you see how disgusting that language is?"

Likewise, James is certain that he lost his job as a football coach at New York University due to discrimination over his drug use.

During 2009, the man offered to resign due to his drug issue, although he affirms that this decision was forced by the club itself , which wanted to disassociate itself from him without paying him or offering him help.

Some time later, the former footballer tried to take York University to the Court of Human Rights , but was unsuccessful as he had not complained within the year's deadline.

" There has never been a war against drugs. How can you have a war against inanimate things? There has only been a war against people. And it is the most vulnerable who suffer the most from the devastation of stigma: social exclusion, marginalized, poverty Paul assured.

" If you arrive on the scene from wealth , power, Hollywood stardust or are endowed with political cachet, you have the best chance of avoiding such a catastrophe ," he added.

His memory of Mexico 1986.

Looking at an image of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he is seen fighting for the ball with the legendary Michel Platini , the Cardiff native remembered that historic moment for all of Canada with nostalgia.

"It's mixed. The pride of knowing you were part of something special but then in later life to be deliberately treated with such contempt and disgrace for a deeply human condition is unacceptable," he said.
They sold it for 25 million euros and 18 months later they bought it back for an impressive figure
look too

They sold it for 25 million euros and 18 months later they bought it back for an impressive figure.

In addition, he appreciated what was achieved by that Canadian team: " What we achieved in that World Cup was phenomenal . We did miracles to keep the scoring lines so predictable."

James' null relationship with his family.

In the last four years, the former soccer player had no relationship with his closest relatives. In fact, he learned of his mother's death two months later.

Today, James lives alone and carries most of his belongings— blankets, clothes, and a small iPad with a cracked screen— in a black duffel bag.

"My football career was everything. I shouldn't have missed a day of work. If I had to end my life tomorrow, which I won't, people would understand. Because it's been bloody brutality ," he concluded.

Source.