‘My brother hid in a rice sack’ – The refugee stars at the World Cup
Refugee Stars Shine at World Cup
My brother hid in a rice - Germany's World Cup campaign kicked off with a 7-1 victory over Curacao at Houston Stadium, where Antonio Rudiger, a Real Madrid defender, came on as a substitute. His family, now settled in Europe, had once fled Sierra Leone’s civil war, a journey marked by danger and sacrifice. Rudiger’s memories of that time are vivid, shaped by his brother’s tales of survival and peril during the conflict.
A Perilous Escape
Rudiger’s uncle played a critical role in ensuring the safety of his nieces and nephews. To evade rebels, he concealed them in a rice sack and made multiple trips to retrieve them, navigating the 210-mile trek from Kono to Freetown. The route was fraught with risks, as families had to feign death to avoid abduction or gunfire.
"There was only the decision to get out of there," Rudiger shared with BBC Sport Africa. "I spoke many times with my brother about it, and he told me the stories of what he saw there and what a march they made from Kono to the capital to find a bit of safety."
Roots in Refuges
Rudiger, the youngest of six siblings, was born in Berlin after his family found refuge in Germany. The experience of growing up in a refugee center left a lasting impact, teaching him that success requires effort and sacrifice. "We had our room, then a family next to us had theirs," he recalled. "It influenced me a lot because nothing is given in life. You have to work for things, you have to sacrifice a lot to get where you sometimes get your goal."
Voices for the Displaced
As diaspora athletes and fans reshape the tournament, Rudiger joins efforts to highlight the struggles of refugees. Alongside Canada’s Alphonso Davies, who spent his early years in a Ghanaian refugee camp after fleeing Liberia, he advocates for greater empathy. Davies, a Bayern Munich full-back, expressed gratitude for the opportunities Canada provided: "Canada means a lot to me. They welcomed us with open arms. They gave me the chance to be who I am and to be what I want to be in life."
A Global Team of Hope
The UNHCR’s "game-changing team" includes players like Australia’s trio of forwards—Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, and Awer Mabil—who grew up in African refugee camps but now shine on the world stage. Irankunda’s goal against Turkey made him the youngest Socceroos scorer in World Cup history. Their stories underscore the transformative power of refuge, as highlighted by the Australian Professional Footballers’ Association, which created a video showcasing each player’s heritage.
Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the vulnerability of children during displacement. "Children and youth are among the most at risk," he noted, citing 48.8 million displaced children globally. Yet, Rudiger warns that perceptions of refugees are shifting. "The narrative goes a bit more blaming the refugees," he said. "If one person does bad, are all bad? You can’t smear it on everyone because that’s not fair. People come here to change their lives, they’re learning, they’re trying to do good."