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“Dos Ferraris contra Italia” – “Two Ferraris once morest Italy”. That was the headline of the article of the largest Spanish sports newspaper Brand regarding the footballing talents of Nic Williams and Lamine Yamal, which came out just before the country’s Group B win once morest the reigning European champions.
They have become great friends, with Williams taking care of the teenager – inspired by how his older brother Iňaki looked following him in his youth, writes the British website BBC. Williams will be 22 years old on July 12 this year, Yamal will only be 17 a day later.
The Williams brothers are also leading figures in the fight once morest discrimination in Spain – where racism still bubbles under the surface in some parts of Spanish society, writes the BBC. Just last week, Williams objected to the racist reactions to the previously mentioned Marca headline that appeared on social networks. The Spanish FA immediately backed Nic Williams and rushed to condemn the hateful comments themselves.
From Ghana to Spain
The family story of the Williams brothers is somewhat incredible. When their mother Maria, pregnant at the time, left Ghana with her husband in search of a better life, she had to face enormous difficulties.
They ended up walking most of the journey, which was originally going to the UK, because they got stuck halfway due to a gang that robbed them of their savings. Father Felix’s feet were badly burned by the burning sands of the Sahara desert. The Williams parents were then arrested in the Spanish enclave of Melilla in North Africa. A lawyer then helped them get political asylum – advising them to say they were from war-torn Liberia, not Ghana.
“They risked their lives so that we, my brother and I, might have a better future. And they succeeded. I will always appreciate what my father and mother did for us – they are fighters, they instilled in us respect, hard work, every day, that no one gives you anything. The truth is that I am proud to have them as my parents and I try to do everything to make them feel proud to have me as their son,” said Nico regarding his parents’ painful journey.
Finally, a Catholic priest in Bilbao also helped them. He found them state housing in Bilbao and took them to the hospital where Iňaki was born and named following a young local priest.
Nico was born in Pamplona in 2002. But because Felix mightn’t find enough work to support his family, he moved to London and did what he might to send money home. Iňaki played a fatherly role to Nico during this time.
“He is everything to me. He helped me and my parents so that we might eat, that I might go to class, that I might dress. He corrects me, he advises me, actually he always did, but we get along very well. He’s my brother, but he’s also a bit like a father,” Nico said of his brother.
Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal – an inseparable duo
Nico has now found a new soulmate in the national team, with the sixteen-year-old phenomenon Lamine Yamal, he has a strong bond. Pictures of the two dancing, probably in preparation for a goal celebration, have circulated on the Internet. According to the BBC, their relationship shows elements of how Nico used to communicate with his older brother.
After Spain’s win over Italy, Nico joked, “I already told Yamal that he needs to learn from ‘his father’, from me!” Nico also added that he stressed to him the importance of enjoying these special and optimistic times.
Their friendship dates back to when they met at Las Rozas in Madrid ahead of Spain’s friendlies once morest Colombia and Brazil in March. Nico was then asked to watch over the young Yamal. Nico agreed and according to the BBC it was a shrewd move by the Spanish federation. Because everyone was fully aware that there mightn’t be a better mentor for Yamal than Nico.
“He is a good example for him. Lamine copies everything Nico does,” says the federation’s spokesperson.
