Jérôme and Kevin Prince Boateng are two of the world’s most
elite soccer players on the world’s most elite stage, the
FIFA World Cup. One brother, Jérôme, chose to play for the land of his
mother: Germany. Kevin-Prince chose instead to play for the land of his
ancestors, the country from which his father emigrated: Ghana.
Meanwhile, their older brother, George, who taught his younger brothers
everything they know, is now a father and a musician after spending what
would have been his prime soccer years in jail. Three brothers, three
dramatically different fates.
Prince Boateng immigrated to Berlin from Sunyani, Ghana in 1981. He
married a German woman and the couple settled in Wedding, which at that
point was one of the rougher areas in Berlin. George Boateng was born
shortly thereafter. In the early years, it was just the three of them,
and George spent much his time teaching himself how to play soccer.
“George had it harder than the rest of us,” said Jérôme in the
best-selling book about the three, “Die Brüder Boateng: Drei deutsche
Karrieren.” “No one taught him anything, he had to learn for himself
what was right and wrong [on the soccer field].” Three years later,
Kevin-Prince was born and shortly thereafter their father, Prince
Boateng, left their mother for another woman: Jerome’s mother, Martina.
Jérôme was born a year after Kevin-Prince.
“Kevin was Jérôme’s idol,” Martina Boateng told Der Spiegel about
their early relationship. Martina and her son had settled in
Charlottenburg, Berlin after Prince left them, too, when Jérôme was
five. The three boys would meet regularly and spent much of their time
perfecting their soccer skills. George taught the younger boys the finer
points of handling a soccer ball, and both boys looked up to him.
Still, it was evident even early on that their paths would split.
“I got into a lot of trouble. Fights, probation. I had a short fuse,
and I was a bad role model for Kevin,” George Boateng said of their
upbringing. His “short-fuse” was responsible for his troubled
high-school years. Drinking, smoking, violence – eventually his exploits
landed him in jail - an experience he considers a wakeup call. There
are two choices when you go to jail, George recently told a reporter
from the Berliner Kurier. Either you end up worse than you were before,
or you stop your bad behavior completely. For George it wasn’t a choice
at all; he came out of jail in control of his temper and ready to start a
new life. Ten years later, it may be bittersweet for him looking at the
success of the brothers he taught, but he says he is happy just to cheer for them.
George describes Kevin as ambitious and Jérôme
as a perfectionist. Indeed, early in their careers these descriptions
were easy to see. Kevin always wanted to be the best, always believed he
was number one. Jérôme, meanwhile, put the time and effort into
perfecting every movement and memorizing every defense technique. But
success went to Kevin’s head, and he was soon partying too much and
making a name for himself as the new Bad Boy Boateng.
Kevin quickly became a star in the lower levels of international
play. He played for Germany for years at the U21 level, and many say
that he could have easily joined the Germany National Team squad in time
for the 2010 World Cup. But Kevin had different plans. His troubled
upbringing coupled with a few bad experiences on the U21 squad made his
decision for him: he would play for Ghana. The decision surprised many
of his friends and family, but nevertheless they were happy for him.
That same year it was also time for Jérôme to choose his team, which
he says wasn’t a choice at all. “I never thought of playing for Ghana,”
he told Der Spiegel shortly before the 2010 World Cup. “It doesn’t make
any sense. Germany is my home. I like the people here, and the
mentality,” he said. “The fact that Kevin made a different choice is his
business. But he’s my half-brother, and I’m happy for him.” Jérôme had
always dreamed of playing for “Die Mannschaft,” so when the call came
that he would make the 23-man roster, he was ecstatic.
The groups for the World Cup are traditionally decided on months in
advance, so when Germany and Ghana landed in the same group, it came as a
shock to the brothers Boateng, who would be facing each other for the
first time on an international stage. There was bad blood already
between the two teams, owing to Kevin-Prince’s career ending foul
against former National Team captain Michael Ballack in the Premier
League regular season. The brothers, who were normally on good terms,
went into the match with tension between them. In the end, Ghana lost,
but both teams advanced to the round of sixteen. Kevin-Prince and Jérôme
made history that day by becoming the first brothers to ever play on
opposing teams during the World Cup. It seemed unlikely that it would
ever happen again, but the soccer fates had different plans.
The draw for the 2014 World Cup groups happened
in late 2013, and by a twist of fate Germany and Ghana ended up once
again grouped together. Circumstances are different now, though. Both
players have refined their game, both are starters on their squads.
Kevin is a father now, and has cleaned up his act dramatically. Jérôme,
on the other hand, has let his quiet talent speak for itself, and is
just as well-known as his brother for his talent and skill. Both are
players in the Bundesliga, Jérôme for the powerhouse FC Bayern and Kevin
for FC Schalke. They have competed against each other all year long,
and now, instead of dreading it, they are excited to face each other.
Their family will doubtlessly be cheering for both brothers, though
George recently said ruefully, “My heart beats for Ghana. Germany is so
strong, they don’t need another supporter.”
For Kevin and Jérôme the Germany vs. Ghana game on June 20 will be
another of the millions of games they played against each other in back
alleys in Berlin.
Showing previous versions of this text.
Jérôme and Kevin Prince Boateng are two of the
world’s most elite soccer players on the world’s most elite stage, the
FIFA World Cup. One brother, Jérôme, chose to play for the land of his
mother: Germany. Kevin-Prince chose instead to play for the land of his
ancestors, the country from which his father emigrated: Ghana.
Meanwhile, their older brother, George, who taught his younger brothers
everything they know, is now a father and a musician after spending what
would have been his prime soccer years in jail. Three brothers, three
dramatically different fates.
Prince Boateng immigrated to Berlin from Sunyani, Ghana in 1981. He
married a German woman and the couple settled in Wedding, which at that
point was one of the rougher areas in Berlin. George Boateng was born
shortly thereafter. In the early years, it was just the three of them,
and George spent much his time teaching himself how to play soccer.
“George had it harder than the rest of us,” said Jérôme in the
best-selling book about the three, “Die Brüder Boateng: Drei deutsche
Karrieren.” “No one taught him anything, he had to learn for himself
what was right and wrong [on the soccer field].” Three years later,
Kevin-Prince was born and shortly thereafter their father, Prince
Boateng, left their mother for another woman: Jerome’s mother, Martina.
Jérôme was born a year after Kevin-Prince.
“Kevin was Jérôme’s idol,” Martina Boateng told Der Spiegel about
their early relationship. Martina and her son had settled in
Charlottenburg, Berlin after Prince left them, too, when Jérôme was
five. The three boys would meet regularly and spent much of their time
perfecting their soccer skills. George taught the younger boys the finer
points of handling a soccer ball, and both boys looked up to him.
Still, it was evident even early on that their paths would split.
“I got into a lot of trouble. Fights, probation. I had a short fuse,
and I was a bad role model for Kevin,” George Boateng said of their
upbringing. His “short-fuse” was responsible for his troubled
high-school years. Drinking, smoking, violence – eventually his exploits
landed him in jail - an experience he considers a wakeup call. There
are two choices when you go to jail, George recently told a reporter
from the Berliner Kurier. Either you end up worse than you were before,
or you stop your bad behavior completely. For George it wasn’t a choice
at all; he came out of jail in control of his temper and ready to start a
new life. Ten years later, it may be bittersweet for him looking at the
success of the brothers he taught, but he says he is happy just to
cheer for them.
George describes Kevin as ambitious and Jérôme
as a perfectionist. Indeed, early in their careers these descriptions
were easy to see. Kevin always wanted to be the best, always believed he
was number one. Jérôme, meanwhile, put the time and effort into
perfecting every movement and memorizing every defense technique. But
success went to Kevin’s head, and he was soon partying too much and
making a name for himself as the new Bad Boy Boateng.
Kevin quickly became a star in the lower levels of international
play. He played for Germany for years at the U21 level, and many say
that he could have easily joined the Germany National Team squad in time
for the 2010 World Cup. But Kevin had different plans. His troubled
upbringing coupled with a few bad experiences on the U21 squad made his
decision for him: he would play for Ghana. The decision surprised many
of his friends and family, but nevertheless they were happy for him.
That same year it was also time for Jérôme to choose his team, which
he says wasn’t a choice at all. “I never thought of playing for Ghana,”
he told Der Spiegel shortly before the 2010 World Cup. “It doesn’t make
any sense. Germany is my home. I like the people here, and the
mentality,” he said. “The fact that Kevin made a different choice is his
business. But he’s my half-brother, and I’m happy for him.” Jérôme had
always dreamed of playing for “Die Mannschaft,” so when the call came
that he would make the 23-man roster, he was ecstatic.
The groups for the World Cup are traditionally decided on months in
advance, so when Germany and Ghana landed in the same group, it came as a
shock to the brothers Boateng, who would be facing each other for the
first time on an international stage. There was bad blood already
between the two teams, owing to Kevin-Prince’s career ending foul
against former National Team captain Michael Ballack in the Premier
League regular season. The brothers, who were normally on good terms,
went into the match with tension between them. In the end, Ghana lost,
but both teams advanced to the round of sixteen. Kevin-Prince and Jérôme
made history that day by becoming the first brothers to ever play on
opposing teams during the World Cup. It seemed unlikely that it would
ever happen again, but the soccer fates had different plans.
The draw for the 2014 World Cup groups happened
in late 2013, and by a twist of fate Germany and Ghana ended up once
again grouped together. Circumstances are different now, though. Both
players have refined their game, both are starters on their squads.
Kevin is a father now, and has cleaned up his act dramatically. Jérôme,
on the other hand, has let his quiet talent speak for itself, and is
just as well-known as his brother for his talent and skill. Both are
players in the Bundesliga, Jérôme for the powerhouse FC Bayern and Kevin
for FC Schalke. They have competed against each other all year long,
and now, instead of dreading it, they are excited to face each other.
Their family will doubtlessly be cheering for both brothers, though
George recently said ruefully, “My heart beats for Ghana. Germany is so
strong, they don’t need another supporter.”
For Kevin and Jérôme the Germany vs. Ghana game on June 20 will be
another of the millions of games they played against each other in back
alleys in Berlin.
Jérôme and Kevin Prince Boateng are two of the world’s most
elite soccer players on the world’s most elite stage, the
FIFA World Cup. One brother, Jérôme, chose to play for the land of his
mother: Germany. Kevin-Prince chose instead to play for the land of his
ancestors, the country from which his father emigrated: Ghana.
Meanwhile, their older brother, George, who taught his younger brothers
everything they know, is now a father and a musician after spending what
would have been his prime soccer years in jail. Three brothers, three
dramatically different fates.
Prince Boateng immigrated to Berlin from Sunyani, Ghana in 1981. He
married a German woman and the couple settled in Wedding, which at that
point was one of the rougher areas in Berlin. George Boateng was born
shortly thereafter. In the early years, it was just the three of them,
and George spent much his time teaching himself how to play soccer.
“George had it harder than the rest of us,” said Jérôme in the
best-selling book about the three, “Die Brüder Boateng: Drei deutsche
Karrieren.” “No one taught him anything, he had to learn for himself
what was right and wrong [on the soccer field].” Three years later,
Kevin-Prince was born and shortly thereafter their father, Prince
Boateng, left their mother for another woman: Jerome’s mother, Martina.
Jérôme was born a year after Kevin-Prince.
“Kevin was Jérôme’s idol,” Martina Boateng told Der Spiegel about
their early relationship. Martina and her son had settled in
Charlottenburg, Berlin after Prince left them, too, when Jérôme was
five. The three boys would meet regularly and spent much of their time
perfecting their soccer skills. George taught the younger boys the finer
points of handling a soccer ball, and both boys looked up to him.
Still, it was evident even early on that their paths would split.
“I got into a lot of trouble. Fights, probation. I had a short fuse,
and I was a bad role model for Kevin,” George Boateng said of their
upbringing. His “short-fuse” was responsible for his troubled
high-school years. Drinking, smoking, violence – eventually his exploits
landed him in jail - an experience he considers a wakeup call. There
are two choices when you go to jail, George recently told a reporter
from the Berliner Kurier. Either you end up worse than you were before,
or you stop your bad behavior completely. For George it wasn’t a choice
at all; he came out of jail in control of his temper and ready to start a
new life. Ten years later, it may be bittersweet for him looking at the
success of the brothers he taught, but he says he is happy just to cheer for them.
George describes Kevin as ambitious and Jérôme
as a perfectionist. Indeed, early in their careers these descriptions
were easy to see. Kevin always wanted to be the best, always believed he
was number one. Jérôme, meanwhile, put the time and effort into
perfecting every movement and memorizing every defense technique. But
success went to Kevin’s head, and he was soon partying too much and
making a name for himself as the new Bad Boy Boateng.
Kevin quickly became a star in the lower levels of international
play. He played for Germany for years at the U21 level, and many say
that he could have easily joined the Germany National Team squad in time
for the 2010 World Cup. But Kevin had different plans. His troubled
upbringing coupled with a few bad experiences on the U21 squad made his
decision for him: he would play for Ghana. The decision surprised many
of his friends and family, but nevertheless they were happy for him.
That same year it was also time for Jérôme to choose his team, which
he says wasn’t a choice at all. “I never thought of playing for Ghana,”
he told Der Spiegel shortly before the 2010 World Cup. “It doesn’t make
any sense. Germany is my home. I like the people here, and the
mentality,” he said. “The fact that Kevin made a different choice is his
business. But he’s my half-brother, and I’m happy for him.” Jérôme had
always dreamed of playing for “Die Mannschaft,” so when the call came
that he would make the 23-man roster, he was ecstatic.
The groups for the World Cup are traditionally decided on months in
advance, so when Germany and Ghana landed in the same group, it came as a
shock to the brothers Boateng, who would be facing each other for the
first time on an international stage. There was bad blood already
between the two teams, owing to Kevin-Prince’s career ending foul
against former National Team captain Michael Ballack in the Premier
League regular season. The brothers, who were normally on good terms,
went into the match with tension between them. In the end, Ghana lost,
but both teams advanced to the round of sixteen. Kevin-Prince and Jérôme
made history that day by becoming the first brothers to ever play on
opposing teams during the World Cup. It seemed unlikely that it would
ever happen again, but the soccer fates had different plans.
The draw for the 2014 World Cup groups happened
in late 2013, and by a twist of fate Germany and Ghana ended up once
again grouped together. Circumstances are different now, though. Both
players have refined their game, both are starters on their squads.
Kevin is a father now, and has cleaned up his act dramatically. Jérôme,
on the other hand, has let his quiet talent speak for itself, and is
just as well-known as his brother for his talent and skill. Both are
players in the Bundesliga, Jérôme for the powerhouse FC Bayern and Kevin
for FC Schalke. They have competed against each other all year long,
and now, instead of dreading it, they are excited to face each other.
Their family will doubtlessly be cheering for both brothers, though
George recently said ruefully, “My heart beats for Ghana. Germany is so
strong, they don’t need another supporter.”
For Kevin and Jérôme the Germany vs. Ghana game on June 20 will be
another of the millions of games they played against each other in back
alleys in Berlin.
Jérôme and Kevin Prince Boateng are two of the
world’s most elite soccer players on the world’s most elite stage, the
FIFA World Cup. One brother, Jérôme, chose to play for the land of his
mother: Germany. Kevin-Prince chose instead to play for the land of his
ancestors, the country from which his father emigrated: Ghana.
Meanwhile, their older brother, George, who taught his younger brothers
everything they know, is now a father and a musician after spending what
would have been his prime soccer years in jail. Three brothers, three
dramatically different fates.
Prince Boateng immigrated to Berlin from Sunyani, Ghana in 1981. He
married a German woman and the couple settled in Wedding, which at that
point was one of the rougher areas in Berlin. George Boateng was born
shortly thereafter. In the early years, it was just the three of them,
and George spent much his time teaching himself how to play soccer.
“George had it harder than the rest of us,” said Jérôme in the
best-selling book about the three, “Die Brüder Boateng: Drei deutsche
Karrieren.” “No one taught him anything, he had to learn for himself
what was right and wrong [on the soccer field].” Three years later,
Kevin-Prince was born and shortly thereafter their father, Prince
Boateng, left their mother for another woman: Jerome’s mother, Martina.
Jérôme was born a year after Kevin-Prince.
“Kevin was Jérôme’s idol,” Martina Boateng told Der Spiegel about
their early relationship. Martina and her son had settled in
Charlottenburg, Berlin after Prince left them, too, when Jérôme was
five. The three boys would meet regularly and spent much of their time
perfecting their soccer skills. George taught the younger boys the finer
points of handling a soccer ball, and both boys looked up to him.
Still, it was evident even early on that their paths would split.
“I got into a lot of trouble. Fights, probation. I had a short fuse,
and I was a bad role model for Kevin,” George Boateng said of their
upbringing. His “short-fuse” was responsible for his troubled
high-school years. Drinking, smoking, violence – eventually his exploits
landed him in jail - an experience he considers a wakeup call. There
are two choices when you go to jail, George recently told a reporter
from the Berliner Kurier. Either you end up worse than you were before,
or you stop your bad behavior completely. For George it wasn’t a choice
at all; he came out of jail in control of his temper and ready to start a
new life. Ten years later, it may be bittersweet for him looking at the
success of the brothers he taught, but he says he is happy just to
cheer for them.
George describes Kevin as ambitious and Jérôme
as a perfectionist. Indeed, early in their careers these descriptions
were easy to see. Kevin always wanted to be the best, always believed he
was number one. Jérôme, meanwhile, put the time and effort into
perfecting every movement and memorizing every defense technique. But
success went to Kevin’s head, and he was soon partying too much and
making a name for himself as the new Bad Boy Boateng.
Kevin quickly became a star in the lower levels of international
play. He played for Germany for years at the U21 level, and many say
that he could have easily joined the Germany National Team squad in time
for the 2010 World Cup. But Kevin had different plans. His troubled
upbringing coupled with a few bad experiences on the U21 squad made his
decision for him: he would play for Ghana. The decision surprised many
of his friends and family, but nevertheless they were happy for him.
That same year it was also time for Jérôme to choose his team, which
he says wasn’t a choice at all. “I never thought of playing for Ghana,”
he told Der Spiegel shortly before the 2010 World Cup. “It doesn’t make
any sense. Germany is my home. I like the people here, and the
mentality,” he said. “The fact that Kevin made a different choice is his
business. But he’s my half-brother, and I’m happy for him.” Jérôme had
always dreamed of playing for “Die Mannschaft,” so when the call came
that he would make the 23-man roster, he was ecstatic.
The groups for the World Cup are traditionally decided on months in
advance, so when Germany and Ghana landed in the same group, it came as a
shock to the brothers Boateng, who would be facing each other for the
first time on an international stage. There was bad blood already
between the two teams, owing to Kevin-Prince’s career ending foul
against former National Team captain Michael Ballack in the Premier
League regular season. The brothers, who were normally on good terms,
went into the match with tension between them. In the end, Ghana lost,
but both teams advanced to the round of sixteen. Kevin-Prince and Jérôme
made history that day by becoming the first brothers to ever play on
opposing teams during the World Cup. It seemed unlikely that it would
ever happen again, but the soccer fates had different plans.
The draw for the 2014 World Cup groups happened
in late 2013, and by a twist of fate Germany and Ghana ended up once
again grouped together. Circumstances are different now, though. Both
players have refined their game, both are starters on their squads.
Kevin is a father now, and has cleaned up his act dramatically. Jérôme,
on the other hand, has let his quiet talent speak for itself, and is
just as well-known as his brother for his talent and skill. Both are
players in the Bundesliga, Jérôme for the powerhouse FC Bayern and Kevin
for FC Schalke. They have competed against each other all year long,
and now, instead of dreading it, they are excited to face each other.
Their family will doubtlessly be cheering for both brothers, though
George recently said ruefully, “My heart beats for Ghana. Germany is so
strong, they don’t need another supporter.”
For Kevin and Jérôme the Germany vs. Ghana game on June 20 will be
another of the millions of games they played against each other in back
alleys in Berlin.