Ke Sho
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Ke Sho is a young Indigenous Ariddian (Wymgani) who plays as a defender for his country's national football team.
Status: active
First appearance: World Cup 31
Caps (after World Cup 31): 9
Goals (after World Cup 31): 0
What makes Sho's case unusual is that he was born and raised in an Indigenous community (the E'te people) deep inside the virgin forests of the island of Wueliw, with little or no contact with the outside world. He was raised in accordance with millenia-old Indigenous customs, laws and traditions, and never even met a non-Indigenous person until the age of 12. He still lives there now, and, until he came to national attention at the age of 15, had ventured out only twice, with several members of his family and community. Once, at the age of 13, to be officially registered as an Indigenous person, and once, a few months later, to watch a football match at Wavecrest City Stadium.
Despite their isolation, the E'te had known about football for many centuries, and some practised it as an alternately ritualised and casual community activity. Sho played football with his friends, according to somewhat adapted rules, and his talent was first spotted by a visiting journalist, who in turn informed the Ariddian Football Association. The AFA sent a representative to the E'te, who was impressed by Sho's potential and undeniable talent. When Sho finally realised the extent of the growing interest surrounding him, he was reportedly amused, but accepted to travel to Wavecrest from time to time for training, and to find out whether he might be interested in a football career.
Sho's story was followed with great interest by the media. Here was a young boy, emerging from the depths of the forest, naked except for patanja-leaf wrappers around his waist and thighs, his torso and arms painted in accordance with the traditional art forms devised in Wueliw communities by the fifteenth century Wymgani artist and philosopher Sho Ea. He spoke only Wymgani - which was not a significant problem, however, given that many non-Indigenous Ariddians speak Wymgani too.
Sho soon displayed considerable talent, proving himself to be a versatile player, but particularly skilled in defence. He accepted a place on the national team before World Cup 31.
