Latest news with #AthleticBilbao
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
New Athletic captain Williams 'lucky' to represent migrants in Spain
MADRID: Athletic Bilbao's first ever black captain Inaki Williams expressed pride at representing immigrants in Spain and called out the far right on Tuesday, after rare anti-migrant unrest shocked the country. Williams, 31, and his younger brother Nico are stars of the club which traditionally only fields players born or brought up in the Basque Country that straddles northern Spain and southwestern France. Bilbao-born Williams has spoken of how his Ghanaian parents crossed the Sahara on foot en route to Spain, with his mother clambering over the perilous border fence separating the Spanish exclave of Melilla from Morocco while pregnant with him. Asked about becoming the club's first black captain after the retirement of Oscar de Marcos and amid rising support for the far right, the Ghana striker told a press conference "it means a lot." "Destiny is destiny. If it were not for my parents, I would not be here, nor Nico," he said. "We are lucky to be able to represent many people who come from outside to earn their daily bread, and be a reference... it's important for us." An immigration debate gripped Spain earlier this month after three nights of violence between far-right groups and residents, many of North African origin, in the southeastern town of Torre Pacheco. The far-right Vox party, which has climbed in recent polls, seized on the unrest that erupted after a 68-year-old pensioner in Torre Pacheco told media he was attacked by three men of North African origin. Vox has also proposed the deportation of all irregular migrants, with tens of thousands arriving on Spanish shores every year on boats from Africa. "It seems that the far right is in fashion. We who have a voice will try to keep working, to continue silencing mouths and keep tearing down barriers," Williams said. The Williams brothers are set to play a pivotal role in Bilbao's upcoming domestic and Champions League campaigns after Spain forward Nico, 23, turned down reported interest from Barcelona and signed a new long-term contract.--AFP
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
New Athletic captain Williams 'lucky' to represent migrants in Spain
Athletic Bilbao's first ever black captain Inaki Williams expressed pride at representing immigrants in Spain and called out the far right on Tuesday, after rare anti-migrant unrest shocked the country. Williams, 31, and his younger brother Nico are stars of the club which traditionally only fields players born or brought up in the Basque Country that straddles northern Spain and southwestern France. Bilbao-born Williams has spoken of how his Ghanaian parents crossed the Sahara on foot en route to Spain, with his mother clambering over the perilous border fence separating the Spanish exclave of Melilla from Morocco while pregnant with him. Asked about becoming the club's first black captain after the retirement of Oscar de Marcos and amid rising support for the far right, the Ghana striker told a press conference "it means a lot". "Destiny is destiny. If it were not for my parents, I would not be here, nor Nico," he said. "We are lucky to be able to represent many people who come from outside to earn their daily bread, and be a reference... it's important for us." An immigration debate gripped Spain earlier this month after three nights of violence between far-right groups and residents, many of North African origin, in the southeastern town of Torre Pacheco. The far-right Vox party, which has climbed in recent polls, seized on the unrest that erupted after a 68-year-old pensioner in Torre Pacheco told media he was attacked by three men of North African origin. Vox has also proposed the deportation of all irregular migrants, with tens of thousands arriving on Spanish shores every year on boats from Africa. "It seems that the far right is in fashion. We who have a voice will try to keep working, to continue silencing mouths and keep tearing down barriers," Williams said. The Williams brothers are set to play a pivotal role in Bilbao's upcoming domestic and Champions League campaigns after Spain forward Nico, 23, turned down reported interest from Barcelona and signed a new long-term contract.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newport 'blown away' by Bilbao reaction to Basque refugee kit
Newport County officials have been "blown away" by the response to their new kit, commemorating Basque refugee children fleeing the Spanish Civil War.A group of 36 children from Bilbao were relocated to Caerleon in 1937 to escape the conflict, and some of their descendants still live in the town to this Tuesday night, a commemorative away kit, modelled on Athletic Bilbao's red and white stripes, was officially worn by Newport County for the first time as the Exiles sealed their place in the Carabao Cup main draw after beating Barnet on penalties."I shed a tear when I first saw it," admitted the club's creative director Neal Heard. He added that more shirts were sold abroad than in the UK when it first launched. Mr Heard, a self-confessed "history geek", first pitched the idea last year having grown up in the area and known about the Basque children's contingent sent to Caerleon were among a group of 4,000 who were relocated across the UK, as civil war raged in Spain between the Nationalists of General Franco and Republican Heard soon realised, however, that even among locals, it seemed to be a forgotten piece of history."I've been surprised how many Newportonians have said 'we never knew about it'," he said."For me, Wales forgets some of the good stuff it's done and how it connects to the world." "I love this story and thought we should bring attention to it - how can we bring it up to the modern day?"Mr Heard then contacted Athletic Bilbao - who play in Spain's top division, but have a policy of only signing Basque players - and they enthusiastically agreed to collaborate."It's a moment of history that's very, very important for the Basque country as a nation," said Dan Parry, Athletic Bilbao's International Communications Officer."It was one of the lowest ebbs in in the country's recent history, at least - and Wales responded, when the Basque country needed help."So I think it's a kit that really resonates with our fan base." That appears to have translated into sales, with a video of the kit filmed in Bilbao leading to more orders coming from Spain than the UK during the initial reaction has not surprised Christopher Evans, a Newport County fan who recently published the first English-language book on the history of Athletic Bilbao."I think the story is amazing, and it resonates with what's going on in the world," he said."I'm proud to be from Newport and live in Caerleon, and I'm proud that we took in refugees."I've seen people on social media, fans from Swansea and Cardiff saying 'I'm not a Newport fan, but I'm buying the kit'."When Neil mentioned the concept to me, straight away I thought 'this is going to fly'." One of the 36 children who found themselves at Cambrian House in Caerleon in 1937 was Andres Benavente, who was 11 at the evacuation had happened following the bombing of Guernica by Franco's forces, where hundreds of civilians were killed in the town near Bilbao."He did say that was one of the things that lived with him," said Andres' son Steven, who still lives in Caerleon. "They were affected for the rest of their lives."He said that when the children had art lessons, the first thing the kids would do was paint pictures with planes and tanks, and all the horrors that went with it." Leaving his parents behind, Andres' loneliness was compounded when his sisters were placed in Scotland, where one died before he saw her later found out that both his parents had also been killed in the conflict, with his father executed for his links to the socialists."It was a difficult time for him in many ways," said Steven. "Language was a problem, but he eventually settled."With virtually no money to pay their way, the children were cared for by Maria Fernandez - a Basque woman living in the area - and formed a dance troupe and choir to help raise funds. There was also a football team, the Basque Boys, who toured south Wales and played games at grounds including Somerton Park in Newport and Cardiff's Ninian soon made a name for themselves as one of the most formidable youth teams in the country, and two of the boys went on to play professionally after returning to was one of the few who remained in Caerleon after the end of World War II, and Steven says it was "great" that the "Children of 37" were now being remembered once more."The shirt is covered in names of people I've heard from the past, names I remember my dad speaking of," he said. Historian Hywel Davies, who has written a book on the Basque children evacuated to Wales, said locals in Caerleon were especially "supportive and welcoming" at the time."Caerleon was probably the most successful 'colony', as they called them, in Britain," he said."People gave their last penny [to help them]."It was part of a political awakening in the 1930s, in particular with the miners' union, and maybe we've forgotten that, maybe we've forgotten generosity and kindness."Their story deserves to be remembered, but it also makes people more aware of the fact that we are interlinked, and we're not going down the road of isolationism and fear of refugees."Because what went on then is something that needs to be replicated, not just remembered."
Edmonton Journal
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Inaki Williams takes pride in being Athletic's first Black captain when 'far-right is fashionable'
Article content Inaki Williams is taking pride in becoming the first Black captain for Athletic Bilbao at a time when he said the 'far-right is fashionable.' Article content The 31-year-old Williams, one of the first Black players to ever join the club, will take over as the squad's main caption this season. Article content Athletic historically has had few Black players because it only fields people from Spain's northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas. Article content Williams and his younger brother, Nico, were born in the northern industrial city of Bilbao from Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life. Article content Article content 'This means a lot,' Williams said in a news conference. 'It's seems like destiny that my mom and dad gave birth to me in Bilbao 31 years ago,' Williams said. 'We are lucky to represent many people who come from abroad to make a living. And to be a reference in Basque Country and in Spain, is important for us. Article content 'We come from humble families, and being able to express this is good for everyone,' he said. 'It seems like the far-right is fashionable, and those of us who have a voice have to keep working and keep proving people wrong and keep overcoming barriers.' Article content Both Williams brothers, who have been subjected to racist insults in Spain, have been playing for Athletic since their youth. Inaki Williams chose to play for Ghana's national team at the last World Cup, while his 23-year-old brother Nico has been a regular in Spain's squad. Article content Article content Nico Williams has become one of the rising stars in Spanish soccer and reportedly was in negotiations to join Barcelona this season, though he ended up extending his contract to stay with Athletic. Article content The Basque Country club will be playing in the Champions League for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Article content 'For many players, it will be their first time in the Champions League, and it's very exciting,' Inaki Williams said. 'In Bilbao there's a great desire to hear that (Champions League) anthem again.'
National Post
21 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Inaki Williams takes pride in being Athletic's first Black captain when 'far-right is fashionable'
Inaki Williams is taking pride in becoming the first Black captain for Athletic Bilbao at a time when he said the 'far-right is fashionable.' Article content The 31-year-old Williams, one of the first Black players to ever join the club, will take over as the squad's main caption this season. Article content Athletic historically has had few Black players because it only fields people from Spain's northern Basque Country region or adjoining areas. Article content Williams and his younger brother, Nico, were born in the northern industrial city of Bilbao from Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life. Article content 'This means a lot,' Williams said in a news conference. 'It's seems like destiny that my mom and dad gave birth to me in Bilbao 31 years ago,' Williams said. 'We are lucky to represent many people who come from abroad to make a living. And to be a reference in Basque Country and in Spain, is important for us. Article content 'We come from humble families, and being able to express this is good for everyone,' he said. 'It seems like the far-right is fashionable, and those of us who have a voice have to keep working and keep proving people wrong and keep overcoming barriers.' Article content Both Williams brothers, who have been subjected to racist insults in Spain, have been playing for Athletic since their youth. Inaki Williams chose to play for Ghana's national team at the last World Cup, while his 23-year-old brother Nico has been a regular in Spain's squad. Article content Nico Williams has become one of the rising stars in Spanish soccer and reportedly was in negotiations to join Barcelona this season, though he ended up extending his contract to stay with Athletic. Article content The Basque Country club will be playing in the Champions League for the first time since the 2014-15 season. Article content 'For many players, it will be their first time in the Champions League, and it's very exciting,' Inaki Williams said. 'In Bilbao there's a great desire to hear that (Champions League) anthem again.'
