Palacios’s refuge from kidnap tragedyPalacios’s refuge from kidnap tragedy

LONDON, (Reuters) – Wilson Palacios, the seam of iron at the heart of Honduras’ World Cup midfield, knows better than  most where football sits in the general scheme of things.

A year ago last Sunday, the 25-year-old Tottenham player,  was informed that the grisly remains of his teenage brother  Edwin, 16, had been found 18 months after his kidnapping.

The entire episode left Palacios on the verge of turning his  back on football and the attendant celebrity and huge riches it  had bestowed on him.

“It’s true — I did come close to retiring,” he told  Reuters.

“The reason why I carried on was firstly, because it’s  always been my dream to be a footballer but mainly it was my  family and close friends, taking their advice saying ‘keep  going, keep going’.”

In the end, Palacios found the game became a refuge from his  grief.

“Football is what I do,” he says simply.

Given the circumstances of that bleak day in May 2009, his  form has been nothing short of astounding for Tottenham who  qualified for the Champions League for the first time on the  back of rock-solid performances from their team player of the  season.

“From a kid I’ve always been quite tough, you know mentally  tough and strong. I have always been tough and single-minded and  that has helped.”

‘BETTER PLACE’

Typically, the staunch Catholic has put his focus on the  future and refuses to blame Honduran police or the authorities  for a failure to save his brother.

“It’s not going to bring my brother back, everyone knows  that, but I suppose it does help that the police did their job.

“We left it in the hands of the law enforcement agency in  Honduras and they did their job. And we left it in the hands of  God, because we know that is where my brother is now. None of us  is here forever.

“What happened to my brother was more than unfortunate, and  his fate was terrible, but what we know now is that he is in a  better place.”

After delivering his club their European dream, Palacios’  sights are now firmly set on confirming Hon-duras’ arrival among the World Cup elite after a 28-year absence from the finals  (June 11-July 11).

It promises to be the toughest of returns for the men from  Central America with European champions Spain, Chile and  Switzerland awaiting them in Group H.

The quietly spoken Palacios knows that his country, whose  only previous appearance in the finals was in 1982, faces strong  opposition but just being in South Africa represents the  pinnacle of his career.

HUGE CREDIT

Honduras went to Spain ‘82 as rank outsiders but although  they went out at the group stage, they exited with huge credit  after a 1-1 draw with the host nation, a 1-1 draw with Northern  Ireland and a a narrow 1-0 defeat to Yugoslavia who only beat  them with an 87th  minute penalty.

Hopes are now high that Honduras can at least honour the memory of those performances.

“For the country and my people, it’s amazing, and also, especially, for my family (after  what we have been through),” Palacios said.

“It’s so long since we’ve been there, over 25 years. It’s a tough group but it’s a chance  for us to do well and we’re really looking forward to it.”

After proving himself in the top flight with Birming-ham City and Wigan Athletic, he moved  to Spurs in January 2009 and believes he is well prepared for the cauldron of a World Cup.

He says Honduras will fear no-one, not even Spain, one of the hotly fancied teams in South  Africa, and their fearsome striker Fernando Torres.

“We all know that Torres is one of the best strikers in the world. Even when I was back in  Honduras I used to watch Spain. I know what qualities the whole side have got but we have good  players too.

“On a personal level, yes it has been an extremely tough year. But all you can do is keep  focused and keep moving  forward. Off the field I am just an ordinary guy. My motivation  is kicking a football.”