Rudiger is very proud of his African roots

Antonio Rudiger is not your typical German. He was born and raised in the country’s capital Berlin, but he has African roots. His parents fled from Siera Leone due to civil war and the Chelsea defender is very aware of that. And proud.

Rudiger talked recently for the official Chelsea website and explained his upbringing in Germany, for which he declared to play.

„Even though I was born and raised in Germany, I also have to recognize there’s another country that’s part of me, so 100 percent I’m very proud of that. I was born and raised in Neukolln in Berlin. It’s a tough area where mostly refugees grew up and my parents fled from the civil war in Sierra Leone and came to Germany to have a better life. Hanging around in the street you either go the right way or the other way. Football kept me away from trouble“ explained Rudiger. 

Steady defender obviously went the right way, as he is a regular under the new coach Thomas Tuchel and also plays for the German National team. But he still remembers those days and want’s to help people around the world, because he was taught like that by his parents, who have moved back to Sierra Leone since.

„I see myself as very lucky because I come from a very poor background so it’s important to me to give something back if I can help. That’s why I said to my brother I want to start a foundation to do good things, not only in Sierra Leone and Germany but around the globe. This is just who I am. This is how my parents raised me. There were tough times in those days and my parents always said “be someone in the future to help the poor” and this has always been on my mind. I’m not doing this for fame or anything, I do it because I want to“ said the defender.

The first chance he got was during the Covid-19 lockout. And he didn’t forget the hospital in Germany where he was born, but also Sierra Leone.

„In the first lockdown, I contacted the hospital where I was born to see if I could help and they said, “we would be grateful if you could pay for the food for the people who are on the front lines for three months”. I said this is something I want to do, especially in the hospital where I was born and I got together with my team and we did it. A couple of months ago, I also provided food for the guys there and at other hospitals around Germany when the second wave came. Also, in Sierra Leone, we provided face masks because, the way things were going in Europe at that time, I was very afraid when it comes down to Africa, so I did my best to help“ said Rudiger.

Since the first coronavirus wave, the football returned, and the German international is missing the fans.

„With all the coronavirus, football has changed for everyone. It is weird because at the end of the day we are doing our job, but it’s like Sunday league. Football is fans and you want them to cheer you and keep you going and you want the other fans to whistle against you. This is the type of stuff you miss. But the FA have done well to keep football going and you have to say thanks to the politicians and the workers who are fighting hard against the virus“ said Rudiger.