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This year’s German football quote of the year has quite the story behind it.
It involves a refugee whose identity has been thrown into question, and two arch-rival clubs and fans who stood behind him.
The story of Bakery Jatta and the 2020 #FußballspruchdesJahres. Thread. (1/8)
It involves a refugee whose identity has been thrown into question, and two arch-rival clubs and fans who stood behind him.
The story of Bakery Jatta and the 2020 #FußballspruchdesJahres. Thread. (1/8)
At 17, Bakery Jatta arrived in Germany as a refugee from Gambia.
“I didn’t think about playing football. I just wanted to have a better life,” he said. 2/8 https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-bakery-jatta-shows-what-belief-in-refugees-can-achieve/a-42735741
“I didn’t think about playing football. I just wanted to have a better life,” he said. 2/8 https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-bakery-jatta-shows-what-belief-in-refugees-can-achieve/a-42735741
After playing for fun in Germany’s lower divisions, Hamburg scouts quickly signed him up.
In October 2018, Jatta made his first appearance for HSV’s first team.
He scored four goals and assisted two in the 18/19 2. Bundesliga season. 3/8
In October 2018, Jatta made his first appearance for HSV’s first team.
He scored four goals and assisted two in the 18/19 2. Bundesliga season. 3/8
In August 2019, reports in Germany suggested Jatta might be playing under a false identity, and that his name and age were in fact different. 4/8 https://www.dw.com/en/footballer-bakary-jattas-identity-being-investigated-by-german-authorities/a-49935847
Both Hamburg clubs, arch-rivals HSV and St. Pauli, as well as both sets of fans, stood behind Jatta. 5/8
However, some clubs which lost to HSV appealed against the games’ sporting merit due to Jatta’s participation. 6/8
Daniel Thioune, then VfL Osnabrück coach, was asked whether his team would do the same should they lose to HSV.
His response: "If you can't beat HSV, you shouldn't try to benefit at the expense of a refugee who's done nothing to anyone. Better to focus on your own mistakes." 7/8
His response: "If you can't beat HSV, you shouldn't try to benefit at the expense of a refugee who's done nothing to anyone. Better to focus on your own mistakes." 7/8
The phrase has now been voted the 2020 German football quote of the year.
And Daniel Thioune is now Bakery Jatta’s coach at HSV.
More on Bakery Jatta
8/8 https://twitter.com/dw_sports/status/1169342820488032256
And Daniel Thioune is now Bakery Jatta’s coach at HSV.
More on Bakery Jatta
8/8 https://twitter.com/dw_sports/status/1169342820488032256
