Konsa: I Grew Up In Tough Neighbourhood

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has opened up on how tough it was growing up in a neighbourhood filled with gangs.

Konza, who made his first England cap against Brazil on Saturday, told The Athletic that he lost close friends to death and others were influenced by drugs.

“One kid who left us was murdered,” he told the Athletic. “Two others have been sent down for murder, another one for rape. It’s the inner-city. Kids are easily influenced and can turn bad.

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“We had another young player and his mum and dad were both drug addicts. He was on the verge of joining a gang and we were warned. A fortnight later, he had an argument in training and soon after he turned up with about 30 of his mates who all chased the other kids around the park with knives and baseball bats.

“It can happen, but the ones who are disciplined and come from good families carry that on and are OK.”

“My area was rough. Proper rough,” Konsa himself said. “You heard a lot about kids getting stabbed and things like that so football helped me, 100 per cent.”