Paul KeenanA sensation at the World Cup and a hero to Tourette’s sufferers for his rising above that syndrome has credited his success to the power of his faith.
Tim Howard, goalkeeper with the US soccer team, became a pundits’ favourite during the Brazil tournament for his athleticism, not least during America’s final match against Belgium when he equalled a 1966 record of 16 saves in a single game and returned to the US a sporting hero.
Yet, through all, Howard, the current Everton Premier League goalkeeper has insisted that “God is more important to me than winning or losing or whether I’m playing or not. Everything else is just a bonus. All praise be to God.”
A sufferer with Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological disorder manifested in sufferers by uncontrollable tics and verbal outbursts, Howard has claimed that the condition, and his own grandmother’s example, brought him closer to God.
“Nana’s sense of peace was so powerful because it came from her faith in the Lord,” he explains. “Through her, God revealed his love for me as well. It wasn’t long before I was following in her footsteps.”
This level of faith, Howards insists, means that he is secure in his life, regardless of his current footballing success and the associated profile he has gained since returning home.
It was reported this week that he has signed six-figure deals with both Nike and McDonalds based on his World Cup exposure.
“If it all went away tomorrow,” he said, “I know I would still have peace. That may sounds crazy to most people, but that’s the kind of peace Christ gives. It’s rooted in his love, and it surpasses understanding.”