Michael Jackson was huge star, make no mistake. It is only with a little hind sight though, that as children of the 80's who grew up in those innocent pre-internet days when our only sources of infotainment were 6 month old magazines, and audio tapes that had moved around town twice over, that his world-wide appeal can be truly appreciated.

In today's information age entertainers have it easy and all it takes to be 'famous' is join face-book and discuss how your wife abandoned you after which you sing six songs begging her to come back using digital equipment that conceals your obvious lack of talent. But Michael was bigger than life and he turned on an entire generation.

Such was his appeal that he got to this dusty corner of the world at a time when all we had was Radio Uganda, and all it played was ABBA. His music was bewitching and must have been a brew of very hard and smart work for we all know how short lived the artificial product of today's bubble-gum pop stars can be (anyone heard from Sisqo lately?). So fascinating were his projects (music videos) that even today almost three decades later, I still get goose bumps from seeing that gravity defying tilt in the Smooth Criminal video.

And boy did he have a cult following. I know white socks, and pants a size too small may sound ridiculous right now, but back then everyone wanted to dress and be like him. Of course success was not always guaranteed, but if you were to pull a girl or two, it helped if you could moon-walk or pop like your limbs had a life of their own. It was that serious.

Already a star in the 60's, he was to truly seize the moment in the 80's at a time when video technology was starting to re-shape the entertainment industry. He dared to believe that opportunity lay beyond the comfort zone and basic function of standing on stage and belting out noise.

He noticed earlier than most that if he created a short 'film' around his music he would deliver what no one else was doing and that would make him the big star he always longed to be. He single handedly re-invented the music industry as we know it today and that is a sign of greatness. To be able to re-arrange the working of an entire industry takes the dedicated application of a true professional. And maybe we can all learn from the King, especially our footballers. Stories abound of how 90 minutes of fame has turned true talents like Steven Bengo into un-manageable brats.

And sadly enough there are so many young men like him whose pinnacle of achievements are i-pods, corn-row hair styles and ear pins. They should realize that the story of all our heroes is that of men whose success is built on a foundation of undivided attention to their work just like Michael. Even men like Maradona and Pele, whose names they are so willing to hijack spent endless hours training and learning the game.

Michael passed on as he pushed himself for one last gig. At 50-years he must have realized this was it, but in true fashion he was still prepared to give it his best shot. He never knew any other way, for him it was always the best or nothing at all. And that is what our footballers should take from his legacy. Success is not handed out on a silver plate; it is something you have to work for.