Kevin-Prince Boateng: ‘Mandela shook my hand and said: my daughter wants to marry you’

07 February 2017 04:30
Las Palmas’s former Spurs and Portsmouth midfielder talks about fighting racism, speaking at the UN and waking up one day ‘looking like 50 Cent: that’s not me’“I was so nervous. I was sweating. My legs were trembling.” Kevin-Prince Boateng was a long way from the Berlin streets where he grew up; a long way from the football pitch too, although it was a game that brought him to the United Nations in Geneva. It was March 2013. It was also, he says, “the craziest moment of my life” – and his is some life. There’s a lot to discuss as he eases into a yellow chair: from the eight clubs in four countries to playing his brother at the World Cup and meeting Nelson Mandela. Who, incidentally, tried to marry him to his daughter. But first, this.It’s some time before Boateng heads out past the technicians laying cables and across the grass at the Estadio Gran Canaria where he plays for Las Palmas on the island that’s become home. “You know, I’m always honest,” he says, getting up. That much has become clear over an hour spent talking with sincerity and humour: good times and too-good times; things people don’t see, like loneliness, and things they do; talent and personality, confrontations and convictions, always willing to make a stand. “I’ve never lacked guts, for good or bad.” That much is clear too.We should fight harder, stronger, against racism. We can’t say the work is done Related: George, Kevin-Prince and Jérôme Boateng: football's intriguing brothers Ronaldinho is always happy. You win, he’s happy. You lose, he’s happy. He scores three own goals, he’s happy Continue readingreadfullarticle

Source: TheGuardian