Learning to endure - Kyle Butler discusses coping with father Craig's cancer diagnosis

Footballer Kyle Butler has described the last three years as the toughest of his life after his father, Phoenix All Stars Football Academy founder Craig Butler, was diagnosed with cancer. The 21-year-old Butler, who plays professional football in Austria at LASK Juniors OO, could hardly control his emotions as he reflected on the day when he first got the news that his father was been diagnosed with the illness. However, he had not give details on the cancer's specification.

"It is tough," Kyle said. "When he just found out, it was very heart-wrenching. I was in Belgium, by Genk, and it was hard just even training, but life got better, and he is doing a little better," he said. I just used this as motivation, so when you see him in the stands and he is watching and he is there, we should just give our all and make sure that he enjoys the game." He added that his father's illness has taken a big toll on his body.

"As a footballer, I would say mentally, it is a bit challenging, but I just have to overcome and be strong for everyone.

"At first, it was a bit challenging in terms of playing, but now, I have managed to deal with it and not think about it before a game or training, and afterwards, I deal with it."

The outspoken Craig, adoptive father and agent of talented Jamaican winger Leon Bailey, who plies his trade for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, is also the president of Maltese club St Andrew FC.