A South African and Manchester United duo sent a strong message to their compatriots in their home country in an attempt to inspire those from a similar environment as the pair.
Benni McCarthy and Quinton Fortune were both born in Cape Town and endured their fair share of struggles prior to tasting the fruits that comes with being professional footballers.
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The pair both went on to have illustrious careers after making it out of the harsh conditions they had been born into, and have both won trophies at the highest levels of the game.
The duo was asked what it meant to them to be examples to kids back in the Cape flats, and gave heart-warming advice.
Fortune: "I hope that they take us an example. That would mean everything because it shows, first of all, amazing work from our parents because if it wasn't for our parents, my grandmother, I wouldn't be here. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice.
"If I had to give any advice to those looking at us, I know through my faith. I would say that whatever they want to do in life, put God first. Have limitless belief in yourself, have limitless imagination.
"I was a kid back home thinking about England. I don't know where it came from. My inspiration was my brothers, the local guys, and when I came over it was Pele and that got my imagination going so have, I know it's not easy fr us now to say it because people live in those conditions every day, but put God first, keep grinding, get your education because not everyone is going to play football.
"Everything is possible," he added.
Big Dreams, Limitless Belief ??????@BenniMcCarthy17 and @QuintonFortune's story will chill the blood and warm the soul ??#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2024
McCarthy meanwhile, echoed similar sentiments, and stated that people can achieve anything despite the harsh environments they come from.
"We shouldn't let where we come from define us," the coach said.
"Our circumstances should never define us. We are all on this earth and everyone has a purpose. You just have to find your purpose in life and to go for it. You should never let anyone tell you that you can't do it, that you are not capable. You are capable of doing whatever you want to.
"It's just how much you belief in yourself, how much you really want it and how hard you are willing to work for it. Then, the sky's the limit. You can achieve what you want to, even if you come from nothing. That's what I believe because I am living proof of that, Quinny is living proof of that.
"We didn't have a chance, we were never given an opportunity to make it, but we never stopped believing. The area where I come from, I am that one per cent that made it, Quinny is that one per cent that made it. So don't ever let anyone tell you where you come from means you have no chance in life.
"That is my advice that I can give to any human being on earth. No matter whether you come from the Cape Flats, from Brazil and the favelas, from India, from where life is tough, you must fight for what you believe in."
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