“I believe whatever’s written in your destiny, that will happen… you can’t do anything about it. You just have to keep going. Never give up.”
My latest guest, Toofan Baz, was a chance encounter; I met him at his phone repair shop, in Putney West London when I popped by to get a new phone cover. We hit it off as soon as we began chatting, realising we are both Manchester United football fans. And talking further, I soon learned Toofan is not your average young man. He is one of the few, possibly only, Afghanistan to have signed an apprentice with English Premier League football (soccer) club - West Bromwich Albion, in Birmingham. More remarkable though, he was a refugee who undertook a perilous two year journey with his father to reach England’s shores.
However, close to turning pro, Toofan experienced a life-threatening head injury, which cut his career short. After several unsuccessful attempts to return to the game and trying to work for others, he decided to set up his own business - his phone repair shop, Elite Phone Store. We met at the shop on a Saturday afternoon in late March and Toofan shared with me his extraordinary story of survival and self-determination.
In particular, I discovered a nine-year-olds two-year migrant story of refugee smuggling across Europe; arriving in England and moving to Birmingham, then signing for West Bromwich Albion FC; fighting to come back after a devastating injury; utilising YouTube to learn how to repair phones and starting a retail business during lockdown; living and working in Hammersmith and Putney; and Toofan’s future football and business dreams.
“Your life is in danger from…80% in danger and 20% chance of surviving.”
“I was in the jungle for one year.”
“I bought a red shirt, which was a Manchester United shirt, with Ronaldo on the back.”
“All I can be is grateful.”
PEOPLE AND PLACES MENTIONED
Elite Phone Shop:
116 Putney High Street, Putney, London SW15 1RG
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Elitephonestore116
West Bromwich Albion FC: https://www.wba.co.uk/
Putney: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putney
Hammersmith: https://www.stuckinlondon.com/londonareaguide/hammersmith.php
The Channel Tunnel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel
Yan Dhanda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan_Dhanda
Tyler Roberts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyler_Roberts
ABOUT MARRIOTT'S SIDE TRIPS
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Marriott shares images and videos from his travels, but rarely sunset shots, at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenrmarriott/
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If you have any questions or comments, Marriott always loves to hear from his listeners. You can reach him at: stephen@stephenrmarriott.com
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The show’s theme music is by Hanna and Julius, thank you.
Thanks to Toofan and Elite Phone Store for hosting the podcast on 27/03/2021.
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