#DeadlineDay: This young footballer’s name is Rabbi, but he’s not Jewish
Born to a Congolese father, young ex-Man City player may spark some interest among Jewish fans, but he isn't of the faith...
He’s one of the most promising young European football players. And his first name is Rabbi.
Rabbi Matondo’s name is likely to spark some interest among Jewish football fans. He’s not Jewish, though — his father is Congolese — and his name is pronounced rab-ee, not like the word for a Jewish clergy member. The name is not too uncommon in certain African countries.
Matondo, who is only 18 years old, made headlines Wednesday for signing a deal worth over £10 million to play for the German club Schalke. He has been playing for the prestigious Manchester City team’s under-23 youth team for the past few years, but now signed for German club Schalke.
Read more here about Rabbi’s unlikely rise from a troubled neighbourhood in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, to some of football’s biggest stages.
Delighted to announce I have signed for @S04! A real honour to sign for a club of this size and stature!
Looking forward to pulling on the shirt as soon as possible and playing at the Veltins arena in front of the Schalker Meile!! ????⚪????⚪#GIG???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/Gb0PNBKjev
— Rabbi Matondo (@rabbi_matondo) January 30, 2019
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.