THERE were many sides to Bob Marley. Had he lived, the

reggae king would be 71 today and no doubt he would be looking for new

frontiers to conquer.

In fact, Copeland Forbes — who managed The Wailers

band on their 1973 tour of the United States — believes Marley would

have looked to places few artistes would dare to go.

“It think he would want to tour Afghanistan! Because music and sports are the only things that can bring warring factions together. We saw it in Zimbabwe. Him spend him own money and go down deh an’ play when dem get Independence. That was where his head was,” Forbes told the

Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Marley performed at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in Salisbury in 1980. He also penned the single Zimbabwe, a year earlier.

The former road manager said a similar situation played itself out right here in Jamaica.

“Bob was a peacemaker. He used his music to bring peace. Me see it wid mi own eyes at the One Love Peace Concert at the (National) Stadium in 1978. Remember, dem did shot him five times and shoot him wife inna her head, and him still go perform for peace. He had the charisma to bring people together wid love and unity,” Forbes added.

In addition to the United States, Marley toured sections of Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

It’s widely known that Marley’s other passion was football. But if he were alive, which team would he support?

That question was posed to former manager and national footballer Alan ‘Skill’ Cole.

“Bob was a Boys Town man,” said Cole, in reference to the premiere League team which hails from the inner-city community of Rema (Wilton Gardens).

Cole, who donned the national colours at 16, introduced Marley to an exercise regime that was only for professional athletes.

“Bob was a Brazilian fan. He neva have a liking for nuh English team,” said Cole, who also played for Náutico in Brazil.

As a Rastafarian, Marley had a strict diet. Frank Thompson, a member of Wadadah, shared some of his delights.

“Him a one porridge man. Him love fish and peas soup, and roast fish. Is a man weh love drink him juice dem too,” Thompson told Observer.

Thompson was also quick to point out he only ate from a ‘selected few’.

“Is a funny man…a nuh any and anybody him tek food from. The only place mi feel him would eat, an’ a because a Skill (Cole), is House of Dread, near Duppy Gate,” he added.