“THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS”
(Kweku The Traveler)
Inaki Williams, the elder brother of Spanish wing sensation and Euros 2024 winner, Nico Williams had just turned 20 when he asked his mum, “How did we come to Spain?”
His mum told him, “Sit down, I think you’re ready to hear the story of papa and me now.”
For years, nobody knew that side of Inaki Williams who was now an Athletic Bilbao star with his brother, and his parents refused to tell him the story until he turned 20.
His parents, Maria and Felix left Ghana shortly after they got married, they crossed the Sahara desert without food or water.
“EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, BE WILLING TO HEAR IT BEFORE JUDGING”
RT!
#OdogwuTales
(Kweku The Traveler)
Inaki Williams, the elder brother of Spanish wing sensation and Euros 2024 winner, Nico Williams had just turned 20 when he asked his mum, “How did we come to Spain?”
His mum told him, “Sit down, I think you’re ready to hear the story of papa and me now.”
For years, nobody knew that side of Inaki Williams who was now an Athletic Bilbao star with his brother, and his parents refused to tell him the story until he turned 20.
His parents, Maria and Felix left Ghana shortly after they got married, they crossed the Sahara desert without food or water.
“EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, BE WILLING TO HEAR IT BEFORE JUDGING”
RT!
#OdogwuTales
They were being smuggled into Spain so they had to be light as ever, with no luggage, they walked barefoot across the Sahara desert sand of about 40-50 degrees hot.
Many couldn't make it and to make matters worse, Maria discovered she was pregnant with Inaki Williams.
You can imagine a pregnant woman trekking barefooted through the Sahara Desert for days without food and water.
They finally got to Spain, she had to climb the fence into Melilla, Spain’s north African enclave, and immediately got arrested together with her husband, Felix.
“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”
Many couldn't make it and to make matters worse, Maria discovered she was pregnant with Inaki Williams.
You can imagine a pregnant woman trekking barefooted through the Sahara Desert for days without food and water.
They finally got to Spain, she had to climb the fence into Melilla, Spain’s north African enclave, and immediately got arrested together with her husband, Felix.
“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”
They didn't have papers, so while in prison waiting to be deported back to Ghana, a lawyer from a Catholic NGO who understood English saved them.
He told them, the only way they could avoid being deported back to Ghana is to lie and say they were from a country at war.
They immediately tore up their Ghana papers and said they were from Liberia to apply for political asylum.
The Liberian Civil war was still ongoing and that was how they were allowed to stay in Bilbao, Spain.
They got state housing and met the priest, Inaki Madones.
“REAL STRENGTH HAS TO DO WITH HELPING OTHERS”
He told them, the only way they could avoid being deported back to Ghana is to lie and say they were from a country at war.
They immediately tore up their Ghana papers and said they were from Liberia to apply for political asylum.
The Liberian Civil war was still ongoing and that was how they were allowed to stay in Bilbao, Spain.
They got state housing and met the priest, Inaki Madones.
“REAL STRENGTH HAS TO DO WITH HELPING OTHERS”
Priest Inaki Madones became Willaims godfather and guardian and he was the one that gave them the name “Inaki”.
He provided food, & clothes from the church for Williams, they were not much but they were content.
His father, Felix did all sorts of jobs to provide for his family. He worked as a shepherd, a cleaner, and any job at all but later he had to move to London where he worked in a shopping center near Chelsea clearing tables, or at times as a security guard, tearing tickets at Stamford Bridge.
He hustled for his family.
“A FATHER’S HARD WORK IS HIS GIFT TO HIS FAMILY”
He provided food, & clothes from the church for Williams, they were not much but they were content.
His father, Felix did all sorts of jobs to provide for his family. He worked as a shepherd, a cleaner, and any job at all but later he had to move to London where he worked in a shopping center near Chelsea clearing tables, or at times as a security guard, tearing tickets at Stamford Bridge.
He hustled for his family.
“A FATHER’S HARD WORK IS HIS GIFT TO HIS FAMILY”
Inaki Williams was just 10 and his younger brother Nico was 2, he had to take care of his brother while his mother, Maria did 2-3 jobs at a time when there was work.
Their father spent over 10 years in England working and sending the little he got back home to his family.
Inaki Williams became a local referee as a teenager, refereeing games at a local league for €10 per game, it was valuable to him but he wanted more.
He promised his mum he would become a professional footballer and at the age of 18, he joined the Atletico Bilbao Academy.
“DARE TO DREAM BIG THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT”
Their father spent over 10 years in England working and sending the little he got back home to his family.
Inaki Williams became a local referee as a teenager, refereeing games at a local league for €10 per game, it was valuable to him but he wanted more.
He promised his mum he would become a professional footballer and at the age of 18, he joined the Atletico Bilbao Academy.
“DARE TO DREAM BIG THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT”
2years later at the age of 20, he made his debut and this changed their lives.
He was able to bring back his father from London after 10 years to be reunited with his family and for his brother Nico to have a paternal figure and stability in the family.
He has gone on to become an Atletic Bilbao legend, becoming only the second black player to play for the club.
He also broke the record and became the first player to play 203 consecutive matches without missing a match, he rarely gets injured.
“IT’S HARD TO BEAT A PERSON WHO NEVER GIVES UP”
He was able to bring back his father from London after 10 years to be reunited with his family and for his brother Nico to have a paternal figure and stability in the family.
He has gone on to become an Atletic Bilbao legend, becoming only the second black player to play for the club.
He also broke the record and became the first player to play 203 consecutive matches without missing a match, he rarely gets injured.
“IT’S HARD TO BEAT A PERSON WHO NEVER GIVES UP”
He also paved the way for his younger brother who now plays together with him for Athletic Bilbao becoming the first brothers to play together for Athletic Bilbao.
Nico Williams is now one of Athletico Bilbao’s highest paid players and one of the most wanted wingers in Europe after his mesmerising displays at the just concluded Euros 2024.
“ALL THINGS WORKS FOR GOOD!!!”
Nico Williams is now one of Athletico Bilbao’s highest paid players and one of the most wanted wingers in Europe after his mesmerising displays at the just concluded Euros 2024.
“ALL THINGS WORKS FOR GOOD!!!”
After the Euros, Nico Williams had this to say, “I run fast, but not as fast as my mother. She escaped death and crossed the Sahara from Ghana to Spain. I gave her my medal because she deserves it more."
Now the sacrifices their parents made risking their lives to cross the desert are reaping rewards in full flow.
We owe our parents EVERYTHING, if you have a parent that has gone out and made sure you become something in life, try and make life soft for them when they're old.
“NEVER FORGET THE HANDS THAT RAISED YOU”
Now the sacrifices their parents made risking their lives to cross the desert are reaping rewards in full flow.
We owe our parents EVERYTHING, if you have a parent that has gone out and made sure you become something in life, try and make life soft for them when they're old.
“NEVER FORGET THE HANDS THAT RAISED YOU”
And in times when it looks like there's no way of escape, may God bring helpers our way.
Helpers like the lawyer that helped them without asking for anything in return, like the priest that helped take care of Williams.
In life, we need such helpers to succeed, we can’t do life alone.
Helpers like the lawyer that helped them without asking for anything in return, like the priest that helped take care of Williams.
In life, we need such helpers to succeed, we can’t do life alone.
Wishing you all a good weekend and retweet and follow if you like content like this one.
Remain Blessed 🙏🙏🙏
Remain Blessed 🙏🙏🙏
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