Berlin (dpa) – National footballer Matthias Ginter said he had to prevail in the face of strong opposition early in his career.

“People said that I would never have the talent to become a Bundesliga player, let alone a national player,” said the 27-year-old Borussia Mönchengladbach defender. Ginter appears with his statements as part of the “#BeUnique” campaign, in which soccer professionals openly denounce difficulties or obstacles in their way.

Christian Günter, an MS participant from SC Freiburg, said his wife was diagnosed with a head tumor at the age of 17. “At the age of 21 I was diagnosed with lymph gland cancer,” the 28-year-old wrote. “We were told that we could never have children of our own. In the meantime, I am not only a happy husband, but also the proud father of our little daughter Nele.”

National player Nadiem Amiri reported on his parents’ flight from Afghanistan in the 1980s. “Everyone told us that we would never be German and that we would remain strangers forever,” said the 24-year-old. “Today I am proud to live in Germany.” Now he loves both countries and cultures, added the Leverkusen resident.

The campaign with numerous professionals and their stories began when the two player consulting agencies International Sports Management of Germany and Unique Sports Management of Great Britain merged to form Unique Sports Group.