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Dream Team

Nando Rafael


Nando Rafael was eight years old when he witnessed the shooting of his parents and a brother and sister in the civil war in Angola. His politically active uncle fled with him to the Netherlands, where they lived in several asylum-seeker hostels from 1994.

His talent was discovered by Ajax and he joined their under-13 side. Ajax later helped Rafael, who had no passport, obtain Angolan citizenship – a precondition for being allowed to play in the first division. But then came the shock: he was refused a work permit. As a non-EU citizen he needed to demonstrate that he played in a comparable European league or for an Angolan national team – both impossible.

Ajax were left with no choice but to let him go to Hertha Berlin in 2002, and Nando lost his home against his will for a second time. European interests play (played) a role in the conflict in Angola, yet no responsibility was assumed for one of its victims. In Berlin Hertha's general manager Dieter Hoeness helped him obtain German citizenship. Aside from the club's own interest in making room for another non-EU player, the authorities saw a decisive "legitimate public interest". He was to play for the under-21 team, where he caused a sensation on his debut. His winner in the 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic in autumn 2005 booked Germany's place in the finals of the European Championship. In 2006 Nando was playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach, geographically closer to Amsterdam again.