As kids, all of us have played with our siblings, who are usually our first rivals in sport be it wielding the bat while the brother bowls or kicking the football past him into the nets.
It would be strange if this rivalry continued through our lives, from school to club to even international levels. Very rare indeed. And that’s precisely why the Boateng brothers Jerome and Kevin-Prince are a unique pair.
They’ve given sibling rivalry a new meaning. In the upcoming Fifa World Cup, Jerome will play for Germany, while Kevin-Prince will turn up for Ghana.
The two teams will face each other in the group stage on June 21 and Jerome, who has earned a name as a tough defender, is likely to have his hands full stopping his brother.
The Boatengs were born to a Ghanaian father but raised by separate mothers in Berlin. The two spent much time together during childhood, but each chose to represent a different nation.
Kevin-Prince holds a German passport but qualifies to play for Ghana because of his father’s nationality. Off the field, the pair maintain a very good relationship and even take vacations together.
The Boatengs apart, there are four sets of brothers playing in the World Cup, the most interesting ones being the Palacios pair from Honduras, Wilson and Jerry. The third, Johnny, could not make it to the squad. And a fourth, Edwin Rene, succumbed to sinister schemes back home he was kidnapped from his home in 2007 and was found murdered in 2009.
Wilson says he and Jerry are desperate to score for their lost brother. “If either of us scores a goal it would be a very special moment. We would dedicate it to my family and especially my brother Rene, who lives on in our hearts.”
Talking about brotherly bonds, the Berezutski twins Alexei and Vasili from Russia, beat everyone hands down. They have stuck with each other all throughout their 31 years. Identical is a word that truly fits them, for they both play in the same position, defence, and for the same club, CSKA Moscow. The Berezutskis will celebrate their birthdays on June 20 during the World Cup.
Then there are the Toure brothers from Ivory Coast. Yaya and Kolo play for Manchester City and Liverpool in England and are the biggest names from their squad after the legendary Didier Drogba.
Coordination comes naturally to them as Kolo is a defender while Yaya manages the midfield. Yaya carries out quite a few responsibilities off the field as well. He has been appointed as a UN goodwill ambassador for his campaign against elephant poaching.
Ghana, a quarterfinalist last time around, also has a couple of Ayews as well. Andre and Jordan, who ply their club trade in France as midfielder and striker respectively. Their older brother Rahim could not make it to the squad but is delighted with the progress of his younger brothers.
“I am happy for them. Andre recently scored a hat-trick while Jordan has rediscovered his form,” he says. “I’m confident they will take the form into the World Cup. Ghana should expect a lot from them because I believe in their talents,” he adds, very much playing the role of the big brother.
