CURTIS DAVIES has revealed his stunned reaction to being called up by Sierra Leone at the age of 38.
The Premier League cult hero enjoyed a long career in the top-flight with spells at West Brom, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Hull.
The centre-back spent the last six seasons playing at Derby but is now at League One outfit Cheltenham Town.
Back in his younger days, the Leytonstone-born ace won three caps for England Under-21s and even received two call-ups to the seniors from Fabio Capello in 2008 – without ever stepping onto the pitch.
However, Davies hit the headlines last week after he was a surprise call-up for African nation Sierra Leone.
He missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Benin as he is still waiting for international clearance but he hopes to finally make his international debut in Tuesday’s friendly clash with Somalia.
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Now he has opened up on how the whole scenario unfolded, starting with answering an Instagram message requesting the chat before Sierra Leone’s physiotherapist called him.
He told old BBC Sport Africa: “I was like, ‘You know I’m 38, right?’”
Davies, who is eligible to play for the African country as his father is from there, was first contacted about a potential call-up a decade ago but nothing ever materialised.
He continued: “It’s always been a big thing in the back of my mind, but I didn’t think the opportunity would come again.
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“It will be amazing. I’m proud to be English and proud to be Sierra Leonean – more so because I never expected it to come.
“The fact that it’s come this late in my career almost makes it more special.
“When I first got the call, I was trying to get promotion back to the Premier League – that was my focus.
“The next time, I was trying to stay in the Premier League with Hull. It was a little bit difficult for me, in terms of my club career, to make the decision.”
Davies then explained how his father, who was born in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, moved to England in 1970 and then decided to stay once the rest of his family returned to Africa.
And it is not just the football he is looking forward to – it is finding his roots.
Davies added: “When his family all went back in ’74 or ’75, he chose to stay – to try to find the English dream, I guess.
“My culture is black British culture. I grew up around Jamaicans, Africans, Somalis – all kinds of different black people, but not necessarily Sierra Leoneans.
“My dad had effectively acclimatised to the English way of life, other than cooking okra soup.
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“I was quite removed from the [African] culture – I’m honest enough to say that. There was never even an opportunity for me to go back.
“It’s never too late to finally engage with and find your roots.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
