Kyle Lafferty has opened up on the emotional inspiration provided by his late sister Sonia.
The Kilmanock striker is fighting to keep his club in the Premiership.
And, every time he takes to the pitch, Lafferty has Sonia with him, with her name on a wristband and her cherished memory in his mind.
The 33-year-old was devastated last year at losing his sibling and his greatest supporter.
Lafferty recounted how Sonia would battle his critics and stick up for him in tough times and says she’ll be looking down on him cheering his every move in the future.
He said: “She is my biggest fan, without a shadow of doubt. She has always been there.
“The amount of times I’d pick up my phone to say, ‘Sonia, stay off Twitter, people are only going to say bad things about me’.
“I’d urge her to ignore them but I’d look and she’d be having a battle with them.
“She would just never let anyone say anything bad about me.
“Now not having her around, I go into every game thinking of her. I’m not sure if people can see but I have her name written on my wrist.
“I read it before every game. I like tattoos, so I will be getting something for her in the future after lockdown.
“Everything I do now I think about her. Every goal I score is dedicated to her and my family.
“She managed to see me live my dream by playing for Northern Ireland and Rangers so I’m delighted she managed to see me do that.
“But I really do think about her every single time I step out on to the pitch and every time I score a goal.
“I feel like she’s up there cheering. I go into games wanting to put in
performances for her and if I help Kilmarnock stay in the league, it’s something she’ll be proud of me for doing.”
Asked if it put football into perspective, Lafferty said: “Totally, 100 per cent. It was difficult for me and my family at the time. My wife was very close to my sister so it affected her too. Unfortunately, the last time I was home I was burying my sister, which obviously wasn’t the nicest time to see my family.
“Football is my job and I need to try and produce the highest performance every day. But, first and foremost, family is the most important thing to everyone.
“With Sonia, she lived to see me live my dream. She passed away a happy person.”
Lafferty has bravely battled on and is now finding happiness of his own at Killie.
Into the latter stages of his career, he admits he’s changed from the
younger days. Sure there are still times for pranks like last week’s spraying of talcum powder in the face of the sports scientist Ross Hughes after training.
But there appears a maturity around Lafferty as he said: “Me being me, I have always done daft stuff and concentrated on football second to other things.
“Looking after my body a lot better. Over the last couple of years, I’ve done that.
“I was always told at a young age to go to the gym and look after myself and I was like, ‘Ach, it will be fine’. I now have to look after my body.”
Lafferty recounts education from international team-mate Steven Davis, who is flying at Rangers with three more years on the clock than the striker.
He said: “He’s up there in the top two or three of the best players I’ve ever played with. He’s got better as he’s got older, crazy as it sounds.
“I don’t want to say he’s abnormal but he’s one of a kind. He’s got just a wee bit more ability than me!
“Me and Davo are very close and I’ve known him for 15 years. He’s one who has been telling me, ‘Get in the ice bath, you’ll benefit from it’, stuff like that.
“He has looked after himself and it’s showing. If I can continue like he’s doing, I’ll be happy.”
If Lafferty does continue his current form, Killie have a great chance of survival.
Ten goals in his last seven games have shown his ability and two more massive performances against St Mirren and Hamilton may be enough to ensure safety.
Lafferty feared he may not get a chance after a training-ground injury last week and said: “It was a silly striker’s challenge. My own fault.”
Lafferty returned without scoring against Motherwell last weekend but is no stranger to sparkling end-of-season runs and added: “I’d love to say it was when the trophies and medals come out but unfortunately, this time that’s different.
“I’ve always been someone who finds that, when the pressure is on, I always provide goals. I’ve scored 10 in nine games.”
