NANDO RAFAEL
BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH

(ajax-usa)

Nando Rafael appears to be finally settling in his career after tumultious start.

Nando's immediate family were all killed during the escalating violence of the Angolan civil war and at age 10, arrived with his aunt and uncle in the Netherlands as refugees.

As he grew older he started playing amateur football and was recognized as an extreme talent by Ajax scouts who signed him to their youth teams. Because he had no passport, Ajax had to wait before they could sign him to a professional contract. When it was established he was a Angolan citizen, Ajax tried to sign him to a contract but the Dutch national office refused him a work permit, saying he had neither appeared enough for Angola nor A games in Holland.

Following that disappointment, Rafael moved to Hertha Berlin in 2002 and has settled nicely in the German capital, gaining experience and more playing time, seeing action in 24 matches in the 03-04 season. Soon thereafter, he gained a German passport and has appeared with the U-21 team.

A tremendous young talent, Nando will look to put his personal tragedies behind and continue to develop as a star footballer with 'Gladbach.

PHOTOS

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Rafael gets airborne in a match against Eintracht Frankfurt
(startplus.de)

Rafael celebrates a goal with Marcelino while at Hertha (FSW)

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