Bayern Munich youngster Alphonso Davies has offered his support to the refugee Tokyo Paralympics team through an emotional message.
The 20-year-old is one of the highly-rated left-backs in the world at the moment following his quick rise to prominence at Bayern.
Davies wrote: “Not everyone understands the journey you have been on. But I do, and that’s an important part of what made me who I am.
“I’ve read your stories and learnt about the journeys you have all been through. You are the most courageous sports team in the world right now.
“You are role models now with the power to inspire others. Make no mistake, what you are about to do in Tokyo will change people’s lives.
“There are going to be young people who will take up the sport because of you. There will be refugees who, through watching you succeed, will believe they can too.”
Davies’s message doesn’t come as a surprise as he himself was a refugee while he was brought up in his birth nation Ghana.
He moved to Canada when he was five and what followed then was nothing but an inspirational journey.
Davies’s passion towards football was evident from his younger days as his schoolmate from Edmonton – the city where he also spent his youth ranks – once said: “Soccer was the thing he wanted to get into, but language was a problem.”
It was during his short spell at Vancouver White Caps Davies caught the attention of Bayern, who signed him in 2018.
The Canadian youngster quickly made his leap from the reserves side to the Bavarians’ first team, and he became a revelation during the 2019/20 season.
Davies was an integral part of Hansi-Flick’s side that won the sextuple that season, including the Bundesliga title. Flick turned the Canadian youngster into an explosive full-back, whose pace and technical abilities caught the opposition off guard.
Not everyone understands the journey you have been on, but I do and that’s an important part of what made me who I am. I was born in refugee camp. My family and I fled war.
Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich defender and Canadian International
Many don’t understand how tough it is being a refugee, having been forced to flee for your safety. How tough it is being displaced in the middle of a pandemic.
Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich defender and Canadian International
You are all role models, now with the power to inspire others… There will be refugees who, through watching you succeed, will believe they can too.
Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich defender and Canadian International
