UNBEATEN UNBOWED

Barnes & Ince battled through terrible abuse and black stars today owe them huge thanks

WILFRIED ZAHA has paid tribute to Paul Ince and John Barnes as black players who stood up to racial abuse and became role models for the next generation.

The Crystal Palace striker was once again the star for his club on Saturday, as a brilliant individual display saw the 27-year-old score one goal and set up the other in a 2-1 win at Fulham.

But last night, Palace academy product ct Zaha , who saw possible le moves away from Selhurst Park once again gain disappear this summer mmer with his club wanting £70million llion for him, spoke about the battle he has faced to make it to the top. p.

And he praised former West Ham and nd Manchester United star Ince and nd fellow England team-mate Barnes for their courage in facing racial abuse in the Eighties and Nineties, es, when there were few mechanisms nisms to combat it.

Zaha, a, speaking on Sky y Sports as part art of Black History Month h, , said: sai d: “Paul Ince nce and John Barnes played for top t eams w where h ere there’s so much scrutiny, ny, I can imagine ne the racial abuse they had.

“People ople hide behind d football to abuse you, but then somehow omehow they throw w in your colour. . Hats off to them – the abuse we get we can report it. But to have gone through that every single day with no repercussions, it must have been the hardest thing ever.

“We have to thank those players. They stuck by it, gave us other black players the opportunity to come through it.” Ivor y Coast star Zaha, constantly linked with Chelsea a n d Ar s e n a l , h a s started the season at Palace with five goal s i n five games, but revealed he used to turn up at training in trainers because he could not afford boots.

He said: “If you really want to get to the pinnacle, there’s sacrifice. Not everyone’s willing to do it. “I mi ssed s o many parties. I thought ‘that’s the party of the year.’ As you grow up you realise there’s a party every other day.

“I ’ve been to some of those parties and a fight has broken out, I’ve got home and thought ‘this is not for me.’ I’ve lain in bed thinking that could have been me. I ’ve weighed up the options and thought about my dream every single day.”

Zaha, born in the Ivory Coast but who grew up in south London, added: “I signed for Crystal Palace when I was eight, and the goal was always to be a footballer.

“When your mindset is that goal, you can’t fail.

“I’ve never had a day when I thought I don’t fancy it. The love I have for football is unbelievable – even if it’s raining.

“Football was my No.1 goal growing up. There weren’t many opportunities and it pushed me even more. There were periods when it was difficult – times when I was giving my utmost but I wasn’t getting a look in.

“I ’ve got to training without having boots, wearing trainers because I couldn’t afford boots like everyone else. I’ve worked hard at training and being told I wasn’t starting used to crush me.

“But it motivated me even more. I’d like my legacy to be that your area doesn’t define you.

“You’re just willing to put the time in and sacrifice everything for a better tomorrow. Don’t let anyone tell you ‘No’ – you can only stop yourself.”

‘We must thank them for giving us the chance to come through it’ ‘People hide behind football to abuse you, but then somehow throw in your colour’

FIGHTING BACK Zaha has faced abuse on social media and he paid tribute to Barnes and Ince (left)