Raheem Sterling credits his mother Nadine for giving him the strength to overcome racist abuse

Sterling made headlines earlier this season when he linked fans’ racism to media racism, and last week he spoke out prominently about racism faced by Juventus youngster Moise Kean

Raheem Sterling has praised the influence of his mother Nadine in giving him the self-esteem and strength to overcome the racist abuse he now faces as a professional footballer.

Sterling has been thrust into the role of an anti-racism campaigner this season, with well-publicised comments in the media after he was racially abused at a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge. Speaking at a press conference at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sterling insisted that he was not trying to “make a difference”, but was simply trying to “raise awareness” of the issue. He called on more footballers to follow him in speaking out.

When the possibility of walk-offs from victims of racism was raised, Sterling explained that he “would not personally agree with it”, because he would rather win the game on the pitch. But he explained passionately how he has the strength to overcome racist abuse, because of what he learned growing up from his mother.

“Growing up my mum has always told me that I am a wonderful black child,” Sterling said. “I know this. When I hear it, it’s nothing new to me. I know I am black and I’m proud. I am confident with my body. If you let it get to you… Some people can’t take it, but growing up, I was always told to love myself, and who I am.”

Sterling was asked whether he agreed with the possibility of players walking off the pitch after being subjected to racist abuse. Sterling was clear that he respected all opinions but said that he would rather win the game, because it would hurt the racists “even more”. Again he emphasised the importance of self-confidence to overcome hatred.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Sterling said. “My mum has taught me how to love myself, how to love my skin colour and how to be comfortable in my skin colour. I wouldn’t personally agree with it [walking off]. At the end of the day, I would rather go and win the game because that would hurt them even more. They’re trying to get you down, if you do walk off the pitch as a group then that makes them win. If you score a goal to win the match, then that’s even a better feeling which beats them.”

Sterling made headlines earlier this season when he linked fans’ racism to media racism, and last week he spoke out prominently about racism faced by Juventus youngster Moise Kean, and Leonardo Bonucci’s equivocal response to it. Sterling called on more footballers to speak out to raise awareness of the issue.

“I don’t really think I can make a difference, this is something that has been happening before I was born, before my parents were born,” he said. “I can only speak up about events that happen to me and the people around me, that’s as much as I can do to raise awareness. I’m not trying to be someone that leads, I can just raise awareness and it’s for people in higher places to do their job. It’s about speaking about what you’ve experienced. some people probably shied away from that but I’m a person that when I feel that something’s not quite right I want to speak about it. If more players speak out then the better it will be.”