Bayan Mahmud: My Story

Bayan Mahmud in Boca

Bayan Mahmud, an 18 year old Ghanaian footballer has a very high possibility of being the first Ghanaian to play for Boca Juniors. It is really hard to imagine how hard it was for him to survive muchless how old he was when his agony began.

When Mahmud was almost 11 years old, his parents were killed in the viola that occured between Mamprusi and Kusasi tribe promising boy to get home only to find his only confidants dead...

He had to hustle with his elder borther who is just one & a half year older than he is before they were finally sent to the orphanage. It was in the orphanage that the desperation to escape started. He wanted to escape at all cost and even though he knew there were risks involved, he looked ahead and took it. He had no means of escaping until he saw a good Samaritan who felt for him and gave him a free ride to Cape Coast, the Southern part of Ghana. But before he escaped, he searched fruitlessly for his brother before he finally left knowing fully well that he wouldn't see his brother for a long time.

When Bayan got to Cape Coast, he made friends with people who ended up helping him to sneak into a ship as a stowaway. In spite of the risks involved, he forged ahead with garri and water in his bag. He sneaked into a ship he didn't even know the destination. How brave of him!!! After a week, the garri and water he had finished and he was left to starve before he was discovered by a another saviour on board. Well, luckily for him, the male Samaritan helped him to hide successfully in the ship for 3 weeks, fed him and even helped him to get down when the ship had a little breakdown.

After he got down from the ship, he slept in the station for days before he was found by a family who helped him and put him in a bus to a destination where he'd find blacks like himself who would understand his language since they didn't.

When he  got off the bus, he met two Senegalese who listened to his story because one of them understood English. They were touched by his story and therefore decided to help him by sending him to the immigration from where he was sent to a refugee shelter in flores.

During his stay in Flores, he was discovered playing football by an aficionado, Ruben Garcia who was moved by what he saw.

Garcia who was able to recognize the potential in Bayan sent him for trials with Boca. He made Garcia proud, leading to his acceptance into Garcia's home to live with him, his wife & 2 daughters.

Luckily for him, he impressed the Bocas who couldn't resist him. He was taken into Boca and was later registered as a footballer in Boca which entitled him to accomodation in the club's facilities at Casa Amarilla.

Presently, he is on the list of the Under 21 awaiting a contract to be the first Ghanaian to play in Boca.

Afterall, perseverance, determination and focus paid him more than he bargained for. How lucky, if you say, do you think he is?