Boatengs In Split Loyalties Over Germany
Ghana’s upcoming meeting against Germany will provide a test of loyalties for many families but none will feel it more than the family of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng.
Ghana and Germany have traditionally had strong ties with the European country a favourite destination for Ghanaian economic immigrants.
In the Boateng household in Berlin, that game in Johannesburg on June 23, 2010 will have a special meaning. Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng were born to a Ghanaian father and a German mother.
But while Jerome made his senior debut for the Germans after representing them at youth level recently against Russia, Kevin-Prince has decided to give up a potential international future with the Germans and play for Ghana instead.
That switch is still awaiting final confirmation but the fact that the two brothers could meet is a prospect that Jerome, the younger of the two brothers who plays at Hamburg SV spoke about in the build-up to the draw.
“I would be delighted when we end up in the same group as Ghana. My father is from Ghana and it would be a special game for both of us,” Boateng told Hamburger Morgenpost
Kevin-Prince who now plays for Portsmouth in England will have his own scores to settle.
The 22-year old was tipped as a future German great after struggling to impress at Tottenham Hotspurs, he fell off the radar and lost favour in the eyes of German selectors forcing him to reconsider Ghana after turning down the chance to play for the Black Stars at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Now he says he cannot wait to put on the Ghana shirt.
Another football who could have mixed feelings about the match will be Gerald Asamoah. The attacker represented Germany at the 2002 final playing in that defeat to Brazil.
Asamoah was born in Ghana before following his parents to Germany where he went on to become the first Black African to represent their national side. -— kickoffghana.com Share Your Thoughts on this article Name Email Location Comments Graphic Ghana may edit your comments and not all comments will be published