A leader with heart and roots

Patrick Otiri Frederiksen was born and raised in Nuuk, where he had a close and loving upbringing. As a big brother, he takes his role seriously, and not only in relation to his little sister and brother, but also in relation to life in general. He sees himself as a protector and guide, and that role has followed him far beyond childhood. Today, both as a captain on the field and in his working life, he is still the one who takes responsibility and guides others.

Feet, hands and balls

Feet, hands and balls

Patrick has a mix of Greenlandic and Nigerian roots. His father is Greenlandic, while his mother is Nigerian, but grew up in Denmark. His childhood in Nuuk was characterized by a close relationship with nature – the fjord and the surrounding landscape were his playground. At the age of four, Patrick started playing football, and this was the beginning of a lifelong love for sports.

- My dad always said that I had at least three pairs of shoes every summer because they just kept falling apart from all the football I played. I loved it, and I still do, Patrick says with a smile.

At the age of 14, Patrick switches from football to handball. Although he has a great love for football, he feels that the community among his friends is pulling him towards handball.

- I was almost the only one who played football, and it made me feel a bit of an outsider. So I started playing handball to be part of the community and share the joy of the sport with others, he explains.

But as with everything else Patrick throws himself into, handball quickly becomes something he takes seriously. He does well and quickly establishes himself as a talented player. When he chooses to go to a sports high school in Denmark at the age of 16, it is not only to get a good education, it is also to pursue his handball career at a higher level.

Nature calls

After three years on his own in Denmark, Patrick chooses to return home to Greenland. He is homesick – not only for his family, but for nature, which has always been a big part of his life.

- The silence and isolation in nature drew me in. It is completely unique to be able to feel yourself, go hunting and live with and in nature, says Patrick, who, despite the good sports opportunities in Denmark, still returns home.

Hunting has been a part of Patrick's life since he was first taken by his father at the age of 10.

- It was an encounter with my Greenlandic identity. Shooting your first reindeer is a kind of test of manhood, he explains.

Patrick spends two years in Nuuk before returning to Denmark to study a business degree in marketing. His experiences in Denmark are many – he develops himself both in sports, creates strong relationships and thrives in the new environment. Yet he feels called home again. Despite the fact that both of his siblings have settled in Denmark and he really enjoys having them close by, Greenland calls him home. This time it is not only nature, but also the desire to give something back that calls him.

Something good for others

When Patrick returns to Nuuk and starts looking for work, it is natural to think that he will use his education as a marketing economist. But fate has other plans for him. He ends up taking a job at a residential institution where he works with children who have been exposed to neglect – and it quickly becomes something he is passionate about.

- I want to make a difference, contribute to society. I have always had that drive in me – to be part of something bigger, Patrick says with a smile that lights up.

The interest, however, comes not from strangers, but from a lifelong source of inspiration – his father.

- I have always looked up to my father. He grew up in an orphanage in Aasiaat and had to take responsibility for his own life from a young age. He has proven that he could become something, despite all the challenges he has faced. I deeply admire that strength and will, Patrick says with awe in his voice.

Today, Patrick is the deputy head of Kaassassuk, a residential institution for boys, where physical activity is an important part of the work. Here, they use sport and movement as a way to help the boys master their challenges and find their way. Patrick runs side by side with the young boys, often far, far out into the countryside. It is in those moments when the body is pushed to its limit that the wall that we all encounter in difficult times in life becomes clear. For the boys, it opens up new sides of themselves and allows them to feel.

- They can experience an inner conflict along the way on a 20-kilometer ride – a conflict with themselves. Life hurts, but when they get over that wall, continue and succeed, they are happier, and it makes them easier to talk to. Suddenly they start opening up, talking about their feelings and their experiences. It is so important, and something many young men could learn from, Patrick says with such warmth that you immediately understand that his work is not just a job, but a genuine matter of the heart.

A leader for all

As Patrick returns home, football and futsal are starting to take up more of his life again. He is playing his part in the national team, and in 2021 he will become captain.

- There was a generational change in the sport, and the responsibility as captain came naturally to me. I want to go ahead and be there for my teammates. It has been easy for me to take on the leadership role – also thanks to my work with children and young people, Patrick says in a calm but determined voice.

Today he proudly wears the captain's armband, and just like in his work at Kaassassuk, it is important to Patrick as a human being that we dare to talk about the things that hurt, or that are difficult to share.

- I think there are many young men who have difficulty putting their feelings into words – especially here in Greenland. There is a tendency to see it as a weakness, but in reality it is the opposite – a strength, says Patrick, letting the words hang in the air for a while before he continues cautiously.

- The suicide rate is far too high, and I also think it's because we don't talk to each other without being judgmental. My hope is that we become more curious and less judgmental, he explains quietly, but with a warmth and depth that testify to his sincere commitment.

That's what he is - the most upright hunter, a man who leads the way, both in football boots and with his heart in the right place, and who shows us all that emotions are not only allowed, but necessary.

Hand in hand

There is one thing that always comes before work, teammates and football – and that is family. Patrick is the father of three children, Meino, Emily and Milo, with two different women. Although he is no longer with the children's mothers, the collaboration and shared family life are still absolutely central to him.

- Meino, Emily and Milo mean everything to me. It means so much to be a role model for them, to show them that you are allowed to dream. That if you believe in your dreams and work for them, you can make them come true, Patrick says with a soft look.

Meino lives in Narsarsuaq with her mother, while Emily and Milo, like their father, practically live in the sports hall in Nuuk.

- They grew up in the hall, used to watching their father play, and they are my absolute favorite audience, says Patrick with a laugh that reveals his great love for the three of them.

However, the price of a career in sports and the great responsibility it entails has also had its costs.

- I have often thought about what I have missed. I have travelled a lot with the sport and spent countless evenings in the hall, and during that time I have been absent in other areas. I want to get better at passing on some of the responsibility so that I can be more present for my children, Patrick says thoughtfully.

Like life in the hall, Patrick is passionate about sharing his love of the fjord with his children. This summer, he hopes that his daughter will be old enough to be introduced to reindeer hunting, which has been a part of his own upbringing.

- She is turning five, so this summer she will be up close. She is looking forward to it, and I am looking forward to showing her what my father showed me, says Patrick, and it is clear that he wants to continue the hunting traditions that have been such an important part of his own childhood.

A vote for Greenland

Due to his prominent role in the sport, Patrick has become a central focal point, not only in Greenland, but also internationally. In Søren Høy's documentary 'We Are Greenland: Football Is Freedom', the entire football team is followed in their fight for international recognition, with Patrick emerging as a significant figure in the narrative.

- There has been a lot of attention from international journalists. At first, it was overwhelming, but today I have learned to be in it. I want to be a voice for Greenland, says Patrick, who also consciously tries to direct the attention towards his teammates, to ensure that more perspectives come forward.

Greenland is more than a country for Patrick – it is a part of his soul, a fire that burns deep within him and for which he is willing to fight, no matter what.

- Greenland is so deeply rooted in me that I will do everything for my country – both on the field, in my work with young people and in my relationship with nature. I want to give back what I have been given and help build a stronger future for Greenland, says Patrick with a conviction that carries his words with both calmness and strength.

His voice reveals a deep love and loyalty to his homeland, which is not only about sports, but also about being an active part of the society and nature that has shaped him.