Ryan Giggs

Calling all soccer players! Calling all soccer players!  Today’s article is on Ryan Giggs, a Welsh-African former football (soccer) player.  Ryan Giggs was born on November 29, 1973, to Donald James Wilson and Lynne Giggs (now Lynne Johnson).  Giggs’ paternal grandfather is Sierra Leonean (African), while he gets the Welsh blood from his mother’s side.  As a child, Giggs was constantly surrounded by rugby and football.  In 1980, his father signed for Swinton RLFC for the rugby league causing his family moved to Salford, Greater Manchester.  Here is where his journey with the football team, Manchester United, began.  At fourteen, Ryan Giggs signed for Manchester United and debuted on March 2nd, 1991.  While playing for the team, he played as a midfielder.  Giggs has achieved many accomplishments including eleven Premier League, four FA Cup, and two Champions League winner’s medals.  Not only has Ryan Giggs been successful on the field but he has also strived to help others in need be successful too.  In 2009, Giggs visited Sierra Leone to help raise awareness about AIDS, this was also his first trip to the land of his ancestors!  Ryan saw the Third World poverty and was shocked.  He knew he had to do something about it.  Giggs along with many others have made efforts to help those in Sierra Leone get educated on the importance of HIV testing, how to prevent HIV and how to live a healthy life.  Helping his ancestor country clearly shows Ryan is not ashamed of his roots!  In fact in an interview Giggs proudly said, “Looking at me from the outside, it is not very obvious, I know but half my family is black and I feel close to their culture and their colour. I am proud of my black roots and of the black blood that runs in my veins. I do not wish to hide my origins, nor do I seek to make it a subject of conversation. I am what I am.”  I feel like I can totally relate to some aspects of this quote!  I am proud of my roots, but on the outside not many people can tell that I am half dominican, even though half my family is.  I also love Dominican food and I want to continue to involve myself more and more with my culture!  Something I admire about Ryan Giggs is how he embraces his culture and is proud of it!  I believe we all should have this mindset!

 

Madelyn Rempel

Project RACE Kids President

Source: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11125045/ryan-giggs-to-take-up-consultancy-role-at-vietnamese-football-academy