Even for ordinary people, it is obvious to replace a phone with a broken screen, let alone the rich and famous. Yet Sadio Mane, Liverpool’s football star, receiving a salary of more than 12 billion VND/month, still uses an old phone, even with a broken screen that surprised many people.
Specifically, in 2019, the photo of Mane player entering the tunnel of Leicester City’s King Power stadium was spread online when the star was holding a phone with a broken screen and still casually using it. The story became a h.ot topic on social media when instead of buying luxury cars and enjoying a well-off life with a huge salary, Mane accepted to live a simple life and save m.oney in front of reporters to save m.oney for donations. for the poor people of his hometown: the nation of Senegal.
From a poor b.oy wearing torn shoes to a Liverpool superstar
In 2010, a reporter came to cover Metz, a French second division team. There, there was a player who attracted special attention by bowing in Japanese style to anyone. And when he saw the camera, he asked the reporter if he could take a picture to send back to his mother’s hometown?
Of course. It was his first photograph in Europe. Then the reporter asked for an email to send photos, it took a while for him to understand what “email” was, then said no and gave the club email address. While the reporter was recording, he timidly asked: “I don’t have to pay for it, do I?”. At that time Sadio Mane had just arrived in Europe from the poor countryside of Senegal. All were strangers, and he was penniless.
Sadio Mane was born in Bambali, a small village in the poor countryside of southern Senegal. Mane’s childhood story is similar to many other poor children here, overshadowed by days of poverty, hardship and no fun except football. Although Mane’s family wanted his son to have a good education from a young age to have a good life, even his parents tried to get him to become a priest in a mosque to have the opportunity to study, but Mane not interested. The only thing this b.oy is passionate about is football.
As he puts it, “I don’t know why, but from the age of 3 or 4 I knew I was going to be a player”. And the only thing that made him interested in going to school was that the school held a football tournament. But sitting on the school chair, Mane was always restless like an ant biting under his butt, just waiting for the bell to end to run out to the village clearing to play football.
Mane’s passion was so great that, if he didn’t have to go to school, except for a little time to sleep, he devoted himself entirely to football. There’s not even a gap for a shower. When someone complains why is it always stinking? Mane replied: “Oh, wait until you’re famous, then you can take a bath.”
One day, Mane told his parents about his intention to drop out of school to focus on football. They said he was crazy. Then ignore it, because it is just a moment of impulsiveness of the son. To pursue football, the only way is to go to the capital Dakar. And Dakar is too far away.
But Mane wasn’t joking. One day, he secretly threw a few clothes into his pocket and waited until evening, hiding in the weeds in front of the house. Early the next morning, around 6 a.m., without even brushing my teeth or showering, I started to pack my bags and leave. Without m.oney, Mane had to walk for a long time. It was not until he met a close friend that he asked for some m.oney to catch a bus to Dakar. Arriving there, Mane stayed at a stranger’s house and went to a training center, competing with 300 other boys.
Welcoming Mane was laughter. It had to be because Mane didn’t look like someone who was ready to play football, with his rumpled trousers that didn’t s.how up in pants or shorts and his ragged shoes, sole and toe held together with nylon straps.
The laughter died down as Mane played. The coaches were immediately convinced. Mane’s adventure officially begins. Meanwhile at home, parents look for Mane everywhere. After flipping through Bambali, they still couldn’t find him, they remembered his best friend, pressured and questioned him. Finally there is an answer. His parents took a car to Dakar with the intention of dragging their wayward son back.
Feeling deeply ashamed to return to Bambali as a failure, Mane begged him to stay until the training was over. No way, parents reluctantly agreed. And they were wrong, because during that time, Metz (France) discovered and brought Mane to Europe.
Looking back a decade, Mane might be surprised he’s come this far. After Metz, he went to Red Bull Salzburg (Austria), Southampton (England) and now Liverpool (England). 2019 was a memorable year, as Mane became the European champion and won the 2018/19 Premier League Golden Boot. Also in the calendar year 2019, Mane has scored 39 goals (30 goals and 9 assists), more than Mohamed Salah and other teammates at Liverpool.
Superstars hate Ferrari, don’t use brands
Football stars after being successful in their careers are often tempted by a lavish and hedonistic lifestyle. There are only a few players like Mane who know how to stay true to themselves when rushing to the gym or learning English to continuously improve themselves.
Player Mane shared: “Why do I have to have 10 Ferraris, 20 diamond-encrusted watches or some planes? It doesn’t make me happier. I was illiterate, lacked enough, had to work. in the fields and playing soccer with my bare feet. Today, with those feet, I have everything. But I don’t need luxury cars, big houses and other flashy gadgets. time to help people. I like to share my good life with my compatriots who are still in need.”
In everyday life, Mane is said to be ready to help people when someone witnessed him helping the father and son cleaning a toilet after the match ended. Obviously, a person is successful not only by how much m.oney they make, but also by how they spend it. Material wealth can be gained and lost at any time, but a soul rich in compassion is not easy to obtain.
