Boateng vs. Boateng

The idea of sibling rivalry may be a mouth watering topic when the Ghana Black Stars go head to head with the three time World Cup Champions, Germany, on Wednesday in this WC game. The fascinating story here is the fact that the Ghanaians are leading the Germans in their group stage. The competition is heating and will begin to boil when the opportunity is giving to two brothers who have the same father but different mothers but plays for different countries, Kevin Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng.

At the moment, Mr. Boateng, the father to both children is in South Africa. Even though this is not the first time Mr. Boeateng would be witnessing his children performing against each other since they used to compete against one another when they were young, coming Wednesday, I believe, would be his first time to have no choice but to stay neutral due to his children’s decisions.

Kevin Prince Boateng decided to play for his father’s land whilst Jerome Boateng decided to play for his mother’s land. Sibling rivalry in international competitions is not new to the world since the American tennis icons, or let me say, the Americans darlings, Venus Williams and Serena Williams demonstrated such tasks severally. Contrary, in the WC games, such as this, if I’m not mistaking, there has not been any. Therefore, this may be the first.

Some of us will recall the first time Venus and Serena Williams met on the center court at Wimbledon, England. The atmosphere was filled with a topic of genuineness even before the beginning of the match. However, as it went, after the match, no one doubted the sibling’s genuineness. The match was a clear cut with both players exchanging fore-hand and back-hand shoots with their intensions to overcome one another. As a Ghanaian proverb says, “If you can’t recognize death, watch when someone is sleeping.” This simply indicates as, if you didn’t witness the two Williams Sisters first performance against each other, almost ten years ago, coming this Wednesday, which will be 23rd of Jun, 2010, at 8:30pm. European time and 2:30pm American, this should be the perfect date, a perfect day and a perfect time to witness such another historic outcome in sports.

Picture this for the up coming group D match up between the underdogs, the Ghana Black Stars, who happens to have the opportunity to acquire one of Mr. Boateng’s sons, the older, at the heart of the team, and the World’s giants, the Germany Great, who also contains the other son, the younger, on their bench. Which one of the siblings will carry the day and which nation will move on to the next stage? It could have been concluded that the only magnitude in this rivalry is that, the stronger or the better performer between the two should win; however, Jerome, the younger son, has not been participating in any of his team’s matches since the beginning of the tournament. Therefore, to conclude on any scenario based on their performances, at the moment, is unpredictable. The reason is there is no sign whether Jerome would be included in the German’s selection or not. On the other hand, if he is to take part in Wednesday’s match, then folks, history will be making.

Going back to pull the facts from Venus and Serena Williams first international encounter indicated above, we would discover that the older daughter to Mr. Williams carried the day. In other words, if history would repeat itself in this manner, then Kevin Prince Boateng should have the upper hand over his younger brother Jerome Boateng. This also means and if I’m not mistaken, it will be the first time the Germans wouldn’t be able to come out from the stage group if Serbia defeats Australia on the same day and the same time. Like Venus Williams demonstrated to the world when her little sister, Serena Williams, was heart broken on that day and tears were running down her bosom, she handed her ultimate trophy to her younger sister in an exchange of the younger sister’s prize, just to console her. I believe, at the end of Wednesday’s match, it should be Kevin’s turn to do just the same for Jerome. At least, the Ghana Black Stars jersey wouldn’t be bad as a souvenir to a little brother.

Here are some questions to pound on: What will be the outcome of this special encounter? Will Germany be able to power Ghana from the top of the group or Ghana will remain the group leader? Is Kevin Boateng going to meet his younger brother on Wednesday to create history or Jerome would still be glued to the German’s bench? Did the Germans pick Jerome Boateng with the idea of grooming him for their future left full-back position or they picked him with their intension to lock him down from the interest of the Ghanaians?

This is worth fighting for.

My Humble Prediction: Ghana 1 Germany 1,

The Black Stars moves up, the Three Time Champions goes home. “In All things, Get Understanding, Get Wisdom”

Ransford Peprah (Rnsfdpeprah@yahoo.com)