Four players of Ghanaian descent will be making an appearance in this year’s global showpiece in Brazil in the colours of their adopted, with Mario Balotelli and Jerome Agyenim Boateng as the key actors in the drama.
Born Mario Bawuah in the Italian city of Palermo to Ghanaian parents, Thomas Bawuah Rose Bawuah, both immigrants in Italy, the 21-year- old AC Milan striker has a Ghanaian heritage and a fascinating life story.
Balotelli’s nationality switch began in 1993 when the Italian authorities suggested that the young boy be placed into a forster care which his parents obliged to. The youngster was subsequently adopted by Jewish-Italian couple, Silvia and Francesco Balotelli.
The eccentric striker, who is expected to lead the Italian attack in Brazil, was once pursued by Ghana’s football authorities but he rejected an offer to play for the Black Stars and opted to play for his adopted country.
The Boateng brothers will take centre stage when Ghana plays Germany on June 21 at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza. For the second time in World Cup history, the brothers will be playing on opposite sides since their first clash in 2010 in South Africa.
Unlike his brother Kevin-Prince, Jerome opted to play for his country of birth, Germany. The Bayern Munich defender, whose Ghanaian father hails from the Ashanti Region, played alongside his brother in the German under-17, under-19 and under-21 sides.
However they went their opposite ways after Kevin-Prince made an 11th hour nationality switch to play for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Another Ghanaian who would be in the colours of another nation is Danny Welbeck. Born Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah to Ghanaian parents, Chris Welbeck and Elizabeth Welbeck, in 1990 in the United Kingdom, the youngster will be making his first appearance at the World Cup.
The Manchester United striker was also given an opportunity to play for Ghana, but the move was botched when Welbeck was handed playing time for England in a friendly against Ghana at Wembley.
The Dutch national side will also feature Georginio Emile Wijnaldum who only recalls that his father, a Ghanaian was called Boateng, but separated with his mother, who is a Surinamese.
On the touchline, former Ghanaian international, and former Borussia Dortmund star, Ibrahim Tanko, will be making history as the first Ghanaian and African tactician to handle a different country at the global soccer fiesta. Tanko is an assistant coach of the Indomitable Lions and will be supporting Cameroun’s German head coach, Volke Finke.
