Yeah, that's a striking story. It reminds me a bit of the story of Deo Niyizonkiza in Strength in What Remains. I hope all of his dreams are realized.
> On Jul 28, 2016, at 10:25 AM, Oliver Barry <[email protected]> wrote: > > What a story. They paddled a canoe out into the Atlantic Ocean to get away > from fighting. > > > Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI > Real Estate Broker > PARKS > 305B Indian Lake Blvd > Suite 220 > Hendersonville TN 37075 > Phone: 615-826-4040 > Mobile: 615-972-4239 > [email protected] > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of JunoGator > Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2016 6:47 AM > To: gatorNEWS > Subject: [gatornews] GatorNews from SEC Country via the Palm Beach Post, > courtesy of JunoGator > > > > > > > > > > Joseph Putu, a war refugee for six years, overcame long odds to reach Florida > > Photo courtesy of Putu > Florida Gators cornerback Joseph Putu. > BY ZACH ABOLVERDI, SEC COUNTRY VIA THE PALM BEACH POST > > GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s matchup against North Texas this season will > hold special significance for one Gators player. > The game marks a life-changing crossroad for junior college cornerback > transfer Joseph Putu, the mystery man in Florida’s 2016 recruiting class. He > came dangerously close to joining the Mean Green — a realization that brought > him to tears weeks before signing day. > Putu desperately was overdue for a break, and bound for a destination bigger > than Denton, Texas. For 20 years, he experienced more than most could bear. > Abandonment and displacement. > Hunger and poverty. > War and death. > Putu’s triumph goes far beyond football. > *** > If not for his mother being a beach lover, Putu may never have been born. > Kebbah Zumoh settled near the coast of Liberia, a West African country, in > the 1980s to raise a family. > Liberia means “Land of the Free.” Freed American and Caribbean slaves founded > the country, which became Africa’s first republic. But in 1989, the nation’s > self-proclaimed independence fell to the wayside as political and economic > corruption from Samuel Doe’s military coup led to the First Liberian Civil > War. > The conflict claimed the lives of more than 100,000 civilians. Child soldiers > were perpetrators and victims in the killings. > By 1995, Zumoh had two young boys and was pregnant with a third — Putu. With > the war at its worst and another son on the way, she decided to flee from her > homeland. > “She had to get out of there,” Putu said. “She wanted a better life for her > children.” > Zumoh had relatives who were fishermen along the coastline near her home. > Their 15-foot wooden canoe would serve as her getaway. > “This is a time when things were really tough,” said Zumoh’s uncle, Cornelius > Tay. “Food was very scarce. There was shelling every day. > “They lived by the beach, so his mother rode a canoe — not even a boat, a > fishing canoe — and traveled for two weeks through the Atlantic Ocean. That’s > how they escaped from the war.” > <Canoe_zkiumn.jpg>Liberian fishermen make their way out to sea as the sun > rises over the Atlantic Ocean. (Natalie Behring-Chisholm/Getty Images) > *** > Tay left Liberia in 1994 after experiencing the first years of the conflict. > He remembers entire villages being wiped out — people fled, hid or were > murdered during attacks. > More than two decades removed from the bloodshed, the horrific moments live > with him. > “I was walking among dead bodies,” Tay said. “Having to run from place to > place, or just lay down on the floor — sometimes for hours. The bullets would > pierce the house and come in, so we’d have to be hiding underneath tables. It > was horrible.” > The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations > brought a ceasefire agreement and new national elections to Liberia in 1997. > However, peace did not last and the Second Liberian Civil War broke out two > years later between a pair of rebel groups and the government. > <Flee-1_tp6xqr.jpg>Thousands of Liberians flee their villages in search of > security and food. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) > The 14-year civil war ended in 2003 with a total death toll around 250,000 > and more than 1.3 million displaced throughout refugee camps in other > countries. > “When I saw neighborhoods destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and people going to > different cities as refugees, it brought my mind to Liberia,” said Tay, who > moved to the United States in 2000. “It was exactly the same thing, but war > caused it for us. > “It got to a point where there was so much fighting that nobody could go > anywhere. You couldn’t leave your house. I was lucky to get out alive.” > Tay and Zumoh couldn’t escape to neighboring Sierra Leone because it also was > engaged in a deadly civil war. > Zumoh gave birth to Putu in Ivory Coast on Christmas Day in 1995. She then > joined her uncle and thousands of Liberians in Buduburam, a refugee camp in > Ghana. > Putu never lived in Liberia, but he felt the effects of the country’s > conflict. > “Joseph experienced it in a way,” Tay said. “The refugee camp wasn’t cozy. It > was an extension of the war.” > *** > Buduburam is Ghana’s largest camp and today still houses refugees from > Liberia and Sierra Leone. > Putu spent six years in Buduburam with his mother, siblings and their father. > Putu has few memories from the camp, but knows his family suffered. > “I had to get up every morning before the sunrise to go get water for the > house,” Putu said. “It wasn’t really hard for me because I was a kid, but I’m > sure it was a tough time for my parents.” > Though out of harm’s way in Buduburam, Putu’s family and others gave up or > used all they had to get to Ghana. The economic conditions were no better in > the camp, and each wave of refugees depleted the available resources. > “You struggled to get by,” Tay said. “Things were very difficult. You had to > go about a mile for drinking water and food. Psychologically, I think Joseph > has blurred it out of his mind. > “But due to the industriousness of his mother and father, they were able to > keep those kids in line and provide for them. His mother traveled and traded, > so she was able to lessen their burden a little bit.” > Something else helped Putu cope with his predicament. > “We did one thing for fun,” he said, “play soccer.” > *** > Soccer is the most popular sport in Ghana, home to one of the best men’s > national teams in Africa. The Black Stars ranked No. 7 in the world in 2010 > and have the second-most titles in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. > The first ball Putu handled was with his feet, and the only time he caught it > was in front of a net. > <Soccer_p7g0n3.jpg>Two Liberian refugees play soccer as spectators watch. > (Chris Hondros/Getty Images) > “I was a really, really good goalie,” Putu said. “My whole family was raised > on soccer. All my friends in the camp played it. I really had no choice, but > soon I wanted to become a professional soccer player.” > His cousin did. > Isaac “Nana” Addai also grew up in Buduburam, where his play in the refugee > camp caught the attention of Ghana club teams and kick-started his soccer > career. > Addai returned to Liberia following the war and played for the country’s U-23 > national team. He also played professionally in Ghana. > “I continue to like soccer because of him,” Putu said. “Liberia is my > favorite team, but I like Ghana, too.” > Ghana and the United States faced each other in three consecutive World Cups. > The Black Stars eliminated the Americans in 2006 and 2010, but fell 2-1 to > the U.S. in the last tournament. > “Ghana was big headed that game,” Putu said of the 2014 match, which drew a > bold prediction from a Ghana midfielder. “They thought they would just run > through America. But I couldn’t cheer for the U.S. soccer team. They’re the > best at every other sport. I had to go for Ghana.” > Now 23, Addai plays in America for the Rhode Island Reds of the National > Premier Soccer League. Putu’s path to the United States was less promising — > and much more painful. > <Family-1_dzctps.jpg>Joseph Putu (left) pictured with his aunt, Agatha > Phillips and her sons, Isaac and Johnny. > *** > When he was 7, Putu received a U.S. visa along with his siblings and father. > His mother did not get one. > Their family was forced to split up. Putu hasn’t seen his mom since the day > he left the refugee camp. > “I cried the whole plane ride over,” he said. > Putu and Zumoh spoke by phone through the years, but he eventually lost > contact with her when she moved back to Liberia. > “Coming here without his mother was not easy for Joseph,” Tay said. “He saw > how tough it was without her. That only added more difficulty to his > childhood.” > Putu lived in three states (Maryland, Tennessee and New Jersey) before > calling Rhode Island home when he was 13. He moved in with his aunt, Agatha > Phillips, who is Addai’s mother. She brought stability to his life, as did > Tay and others in Providence, R.I. > It was there he met a youth football coach named John Benton. Before long, > Benton became his mentor and helped provide for him. When Benton first bought > Putu breakfast, he was taken aback by his order. > “I brought him to McDonald’s and he got a sandwich with no eggs on it,” > Benton said. “I was like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ He told me, ‘I don’t do > eggs anymore.’ I knew something was up with this kid.” > Putu said his family came to America with little money, and food was once > again limited. They couldn’t afford a lot of groceries and had to eat eggs > almost every day. > “That’s all I ate,” Putu said. “Now whenever I eat them, it hurts my stomach.” > *** > Putu was introduced to America’s version of football in Maryland. > <Football_sqd2lq.jpg>Joseph Putu playing football at age 11. > He arrived there from Ghana with soccer aspirations like his cousin, but also > desired fitting in. > “Whenever I’d go to recess at the playground or my apartment complex, > everybody was playing football,” Putu said. “I wanted to play with other > kids, and that’s how I fell in love with it. I was also better than > everybody.” > Putu had interest in playing both football and soccer when he moved to Rhode > Island, but as destiny would have it, a misinterpreted question led him to > one sport. > “He stopped by the boys club looking for somewhere to play soccer, but he > asked where the football field was,” Benton said. “That’s when they sent him > to me. After we met each other, we never had another soccer conversation.” > Putu played for Benton’s youth football team and followed him to Mount > Pleasant High School, where Benton was an assistant coach. Putu flourished > under his guidance. > “He won MVP at a combine as an incoming freshman, and did it every year after > that,” Benton said. “He was the best receiver and defensive back in the > state, and his football IQ was off the charts. > “This kid would call me at 5 o’clock every Friday morning. He couldn’t sleep > because he was thinking about the game that night.” > Putu also was a track star in high school and an all-state basketball player. > Benton said he hasn’t coached an athlete with Putu’s drive and work ethic. > “No matter how much I taught him, he wanted to do more,” Benton said. “When I > see the Gatorade commercial about incredible and inevitable, I think of him. > “A lot of kids have skills and promise, but they don’t want to put the work > in. Joseph didn’t just want to be good. He was motivated by something deeper.” > *** > Despite excelling at Mount Pleasant, Putu didn’t land any Division-I offers. > He had the option to attend some smaller colleges, but he believed his talent > warranted more. > <JUco_oudzwz.jpg>Joseph Putu made the move to defensive back in junior > college. > “The state of Rhode Island just isn’t recruited,” Benton said. “We have a > stigma that D-I guys don’t exist here. He could have went D-II or D-III, but > he wanted to go the junior college route and gambled on his future.” > Putu switched to defensive back at North Dakota State College of Science. He > played safety his first year and cornerback in 2015. But his breakout > sophomore season almost didn’t happen. > Putu lost his financial aid last summer because of a Visa issue and needed to > pay $5,000 for his classes to remain in school and on the football team. His > solution? > “I had to get three jobs,” Putu said. “I worked at Pizza Hut, I had a work > study job and I worked at basketball games. My schedule was 7 a.m. to 10 > p.m., and I rode my bike everywhere.” > Benton made sure to keep him fed. He put his debit card on file at four > restaurants in North Dakota so Putu could buy a meal if he was low on cash. > “I can’t go to sleep if I know that kid didn’t eat. He’s had enough hungry > nights,” Benton said. “I’m just that kind of person. My family has always > been in community service, so it’s instilled in me. > “I lost a lot of vacation days at work because of Joseph, but he was worth > it. Every day I took off for him meant more to me than a vacation.” > *** > Putu made the most of his 2015 campaign. He intercepted 10 passes with a > pick-six and recorded 55 tackles. He also forced five fumbles and recovered > eight. > But at the conclusion of last season, colleges still weren’t pursuing him. > Putu had offers from Tennessee State and North Texas — the latter wanted to > him to blueshirt and pay his tuition as a freshman. > “I was told to have good grades, have good film and schools will come,” Putu > said. “I did all that, and three weeks before signing day nobody was coming > through. > “One day I was in the bathroom just tearing up. I thought I’d have to go to > Tennessee State.” > That’s when his world turned upside down. Arkansas, Toledo and UAB offered > Putu that next week and immediately he took official visits to all three. > <Collins-1_qde9ok.jpg>Joseph Putu (left) with Florida defensive coordinator > Geoff Collins. > Hours before he left for his last trip to Arkansas, Florida defensive > coordinator Geoff Collins popped up at his school. > “He walked in and went straight to business,” Putu said. “He pulled the > roster right out, told me who was leaving and then showed me his defense. He > didn’t beat around the bush, and I loved his swag. He was just the real deal.” > Putu committed to the Razorbacks that weekend, but Collins offered him as > soon as he returned from his visit. Auburn, Ohio State and Texas A&M also > pushed for Putu in the eleventh hour. > Putu never visited the Gators, but Collins won him over and he signed with > Florida. Collins was equally sold on Putu. > “He’s 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, athletic, high character, loves football,” > Collins told GatorVision. “When you get around the kid and you talk to him > and you see the passion and you see how motivated he is to be successful > academically, socially, on the football field, I think he’s really a movie in > the making once his success comes through.” > Benton didn’t expect Putu to end up in the SEC, but he’s not surprised his > path led him there. > “I always thought he was a bigger talent than Rhode Island understood him to > be. I’m just glad somebody saw it,” Benton said. “He asked me for my advice > on Arkansas and Florida. I told him, ‘Bret Bielema is a great coach, but > you’re a defensive back and Florida is DBU.’ He was born to be on that stage.” > *** > Putu takes the stage in September, playing in the best college conference of > America’s most popular sport at one of the nation’s top universities. > It’s hard to fathom how Putu got to this point. He survived an African civil > war and a deep-sea canoe ride in the womb, a Ghana refugee camp as a child > and more than a dozen years of struggling in the United States. > “It’s still unbelievable to me,” Tay said. “To be honest with you, I didn’t > expect him to reach this height of his career because of how things were for > him growing up. > “But I think that really motivated him to become something. I’m impressed > with how he took his life and changed it around.” > Putu’s determination and resilience is as rare as his story, but the embers > of his past fuel the fire for his future. He hasn’t forgotten where he came > from, nor is he on a mission for himself alone. > “In my culture, when the people who raised you get old, it’s your turn to > take care of them,” Putu said. “That’s what I plan to do. I go hard for > everyone who helped me out and invested in me. I’m not going to let them > down.” > Though new challenges await him, Putu’s potential has finally been realized. > His mother’s intuition predicted it back in Buduburam. > “From the day I was born, she constantly told me I would be the kid to go far > and make their dreams come true,” Putu said. “She just knew I’d make the > whole family proud. > “I’m just happy I can honor her now. This is the life she wanted for me.” > All photos other than Getty Images are courtesy of Joseph Putu. > Zach Abolverdi is the Florida beat writer for SEC Country and The Atlanta > Journal-Constitution. > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 > National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 > National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorNews" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 > National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 > National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier > (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "GatorTalk" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorTalk" group. 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