Kevin-Prince Boateng playing for Ghana at the World Cup was appointed as the first global ambassador for the FIFA’s anti-discrimination taskforce in 2013. He is also UN’s ambassador for anti-racism.
Boateng although German-born announced that, as he was yet to receive his first senior cap for Germany, accepted an offer from the GFA with an offer to play for the Ghanaian national team.
He will be playing against Germany and his half-brother, Jérôme Boateng in Sunday’s match.
Born and Raised:
March 6 1987, Wedding, Berlin, West Germany. Boateng calls himself “The Ghetto Kid” because he was brought up in the poor Wedding district of Berlin.
Roots:
Boateng has a German mother and a Ghanaian father.
Early Career:
Boateng started his career at the age of 7, with the club Reinickendorfer Füchse and was with Hertha BSC from July 1 1994 to July 31 2007.
Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Bronze Medal Award in the Under-18 category in 2005. On July 27 2006, Boateng was awarded the Fritz Walter Gold Medal in the Under-19 category.
Failure:
Boateng signed a four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2007. His contribution to the team was limited and was then loaned to Borussia Dortmund in January 2009 for the remainder of the season.
Re-emergence:
Portsmouth signed Boateng on a three-year contract in August 2009. On September 12 2009, he scored his first goal for the club against Bolton Wanderers and was named Portsmouth’s joint Player of the Month.
Controversy:
In May 2010, Portsmouth played Chelsea in the final of the FA cup. Chelsea won the match 1–0. During the match, Boateng fouled Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, injuring Ballack’s ankle and ruling him out of the impending World Cup. Boateng claimed that Ballack slapped him in the face prior to this.
Boateng called the German media and the German national football team players hypocrites for backing Ballack whilst ignoring his slap on the pitch.
The Big League – AC Milan:
On August 17, 2010, Boateng transferred to Serie A club Genoa CFC., on a three-year contract, and then immediately joined A C Milan on loan. AC Milan signed Boateng permanently from Genoa CFC in June 2011, on a four-year contract due to expire in June 2015.
Interesting facts:
– Boateng’s uncle, Robert Boateng is a former professional footballer and Ghana international midfielder and played for African and Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko
– Boateng claims to be proficient in six languages.
– Boateng is a practising Muslim and keenly recites the Islamic faith holy Quran and observes the Islamic Ramadan of the Islamic calendar
– Boateng has 26Â tattoos.
– Earlier on in his career, Boateng developed a serious shopping addiction as a result of personal problems
– He was among the ten players nominated for African Footballer of the Year in 2010 and 2011.
– He is known for his intense dynamism; physical strength, and extreme aggression.