Ghana Eying Inter’s Baby Azzurri Savior
By: Martha | July 24th, 2007
I’ve mentioned Mario Balotelli on this site only once, when he scored the winning goal for Inter’s youth side in last season’s Primavera title game. But, you’ll probably be hearing more about him in the future: The kid is 16 years old, scored four goals for Inter’s Primavera side, and is starting to get a lot of attention — and not just in Italy.
In fact, the Ghana Football Association is planning to seduce Balotelli away from his destiny to lead the Azzurri to World Cup victory in 2014. Those bastards! Balotelli — whose full name is Mario Balotelli Barwuah (though, interestingly, the “Barwuah” part is never used on the Inter website) — was born in Italy of Ghanaian parents and later adopted by an Italian family; as a result, he’s eligible to play for either national team. So far, he’s been in several Italy youth sides but, as we’ve discussed regarding Giuseppe Rossi and the pipe dream of him joining the American set-up, a player can switch footballing nationalities until he gets his first senior cap. So, in theory, Balotelli could still decide to play for Ghana rather than Italy. But who would want to do that? It’s like Rossi’s situation: Play for one of the greatest footballing nations in the world or … someone else. Unless that footballing power doesn’t want you, the choice is pretty clear. Right?
According to the Ghana FA, Balotelli’s “real parents” [insert all adoptive parents losing their collective minds here at the implication that they're not "real" here] are all about their kid representing Ghana at the senior level, so the boy can expect lots of genetic pressure when the time comes to make his decision.
At the moment, in the absence of all of Inter’s Copa America representatives (which, since Argentina was there, means pretty much the whole team is missing), Balotelli is one of the youth players training with the senior team. And he’s so far more than holding his own, having played a half in each of the team’s preseason matches, and scored one goal. (And what were YOU doing at 16?) The kid turns 17 in two weeks and it’s probably only a matter of time before he makes his Nerazzurri debut, albeit in a TIM Cup match against a Serie C side. After that? Look out Donadoni, Super Mario is coming! Well, eventually, anyway.
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Comments
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heh, some of these comments are way too melodramatic. I don’t think anyone said Ghanaians were ‘bastards’. Only the Football Association was mentioned, and even that was in jest. Relax guys.
And it is silly to argue about Balotelli’s nationality when only his opinion will count in the end.
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United States
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I hope all these Italians Fans will shut up and give Ghana what is rightfully hours. The Boy Carries a Ghana passport because he is a citizen of Ghana and not of ITAly no matter how you look at it. It is also about time that Italy changed their rasist immigration laws. Italy and Germany are 2 of the so called first world nations where birth thus not guarantee citizenship. US, Canada, Britain, France Etc all give citizenship based on birth.Barwuah is the boys name and not matter what in the eyes all u italians he is ghanain. I hope he realizes that before the monkey chants starts.
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United States -
Succinct, I think if you re-read the post, you’ll see that I refer to the Ghana FA as bastards, not all Ghanaians. Additionally, you will notice that I did so in a clearly joking matter. Furthermore, if you read other posts on this blog, I’m sure you will find that word applied to any number of white Italians, and probably some Americans to boot. Maybe even a Portuguese, if I was really pissed off at Figo about something.
As RT eloquently said, people are taking light-hearted comments a little too seriously here. Balotelli is likely to be a great player; both the nations for whom he is eligible to play want him with them — there’s nothing there but respect from either country, or from me.
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Portugal -
How come the boy still has a Ghanaian passport? If he really was an Italian, why hasn’t he been issued with an Italian passport? All the Azzuri( or whatever your national team is known as) will do is allow him to play in a couple of games. The moment he doesn’t perform he will be dropped like a sack of rice and the racist Italian fans will remind him of the colour of his skin.
Why do think Barwauh was not used on the Inter website? The Barwuah was not used because Inter don’t want the people to know about his true roots, until he fails. Yes, the moment he faces a hurdle or two, the same people will remind of his Ghanaian parents. I’ve seen it happen to British sportsmen.
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United States -
It is always interesting when these people diss a group of people, and reply by saying ‘oh it was all in jest’ and all that bullcrap. RT is right about Mario being the master of his own ship; we all hope he makes the right decision.
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United States -
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You said u were refering to the Ghana FA as bastards, not all Ghanaians.
I find it still very insulting!!
anyway, Barwuah is as much a Ghanian as well an Italian. but the fact that he is not seen/view as an Italian in the eye of the law(his country of birth) SAYS A GREAT DEAL!!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Perhaps this might help you guys understand the situationa bit better http://www.avvenimentionline.it/content/view/519/139/
Posted from
United Kingdom -
It gets me grounded in epistemology that Barwuah has been in italy all his life, but has been rejected by “his country of birth”. He does not travel on an italian passport, and could not play for any of the italian junior national teams because of his heritage. The fact is, mario can never be a full italian, regardless of how hard he tries, so why bother. By italian standards, one has to have ITALIAN BLOOD running through his veins to be a “full-blooded” italian. Well, folks, the tables have turned. Turn that boy loose, cos there is no italian blood running through his veins. Let the same rule apply here. And please stop brain-washing that boy. You have done enough. He does not have to change his name or deny his heritage in exchange for italian citizenship. I hope mario sticks to his roots, because at the end of the day, Ghanaians would not have any other choice, but to support him through thick and thin. I can’t say the same for italy. They will be quick to start chunking banana at your azz, like they have always done to players of African descent. Mario, if you’re reading, be wise, Stick to your roots. Take a queue from Gerald Asamoah, Originally, a Ghanaian, but now naturalized German citizen, who plays on the German national team. This guy has received death-threats and racial taunts from neo-nazi groups for choosing to play for germany.
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United States -
whoa, what happened here.. first of, i agree that the “bastard” comment was used in jest… i can also see the ghanaian perspective of all these teams capping their natives and going on and doing great things… if all the players of ghanaian decent played for ghana currently, that would be a team that could challenge for the the world-cup and with all of us being passionate football fans, that kind of stuff pisses me of..
but there is no racism here, im not white or italian and the color of my skin is franky irrelavant… and for individuals who feel that they have encountered prejudice in their lives people here have been fairly willing to generalize entire countries based on the ideas of a few?! some of you have gotten mad that she called ghanaians (she didnt, but thats what you think it implied) “bastards” and thats ok, but you dont see that calling an entire country racist doing the exact same thing… thats a little hypocritical..
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United Arab Emirates -
sorry for going all political on you, but i felt it was needed! :)
Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
Well, K, i see that you are taking this situation very lightly. You have “probably” not been on the other end of the stick. First of all, the GFA is a national organization. You cannot insult the GFA, without insulting the people that it serves. You can go political all you want, but you sound just like the rest of them. I really don’t care about your etnicity. Your comments says it all. Catch a clue, this is institutional racism. Though Barwuah was born in italy, he has to live the first 19 years of his life as an alien in the country of his birth. That is humiliating. Meaning that he was not guaranteed any rights under the law. But the italian kids born on the same day certainly had those rights guaranteed to them at birth. This creates an unfair advantage against Mario. If the system was fair, he should’t have to wait 19 yrs to become a citizen. You can be blind to the facts if you want. I am not saying that all italians are racist, but the monkey chants against blacks, and throwing of banana onto fields have been widely documented. Italy accepts mario as a talented football player, but they don’t accept his ethnicity. Why do you think they want him to cut off his last given Ghanaian family name, Barwuah? Mario should opt for Ghana, cos his best interest will be served by that decision, and he would not have to worry about any racism from within.
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United States -
Holy Christ it was a joke. To say this is racism is highly ignorant and an insult to your own culture and people, one for which I have always held great respect. Provided you are Ghanaian, of course.
And to say that Martha’s obviously sarcastic joke regarding the Ghanaian FA was racist really digs a hole that wasn’t there in the first place.
Feel free to read between the lines.
And to say Italians are preventing him from playing is very naive. Just go look up the case of Stefano Okaka Chuka. Same exact situation. Born in Italy to Nigerian immigrant parents, but because his birth parents legally obtained citizenship, he is able to play to play for the junior teams and eventually the Azzurri (plus he’s much better than Mario). Because a country has strict immigration laws does not make them racist.
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United States -
Strict immigration policy? but they don’t have a problem capping immigrants for their national team…Besides, one person’s “sarcasm” is another person’s pain..I can tell that you are white, cos you don’t get it. Please don’t preach to me about being a Ghanaian…I live it everyday. You don’t.
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No, in fact I do get it. I lived it everyday, spending my days where I was a complete outsider. Taking shit for who I was and my family background. But you know what helped it? Not taking it so seriously. Laugh it off when it’s a joke. Realize that people don’t have it out for you. Take it for what it is and move on. If you’ve ever read Martha before you would understand her humor. So stop showing your naiveties, go back, read her stuff, learn something, and then make your argument. Because otherwise it just makes you look like a fool - which I don’t think you are.
And I know athletes who have been approached by the Italian Olympic Committee to play/represent Italia, who are Italian by blood, eligible for citizenship, but STILL have to sit around on their ass waiting for citizenship to process and the system to run its course. Ghana is not an isolated case. It’s just how shit works. You cannot blame a country for basing citizenship more greatly on blood rather than birthplace. It’s their choice. They’re a proud people. Let them express that.
Perception isn’t reality, my friend.
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United States -
“It’s just how shit works. (yes for you). You cannot blame a country for basing citizenship more greatly on blood rather than birthplace” ……….YOU ARE NAIVE and you just proved my proint…yes…the more you talk the more you sound like the KKK…Yes, go ahead, WHITE POWER…preserve the white race through the blood line….and i don’t have no problem with that, but contrary to your accusations i am not blaming Italy. They can do whatever the hell they want, that is their country. But, don’t call me names because i am calling it as i see it. The truth does hurt sometimes. Besides, i respect you rolling over when people call you names… That does not mean that everybody has to do the same…you still don’t get…Learn to respect that we don’t like to be called out of their names…NOT EVEN IN A JOKING MATTER. You are acting like an idiot, as if there is something wrong with being civil….
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United States -
I’m pretty sure you just missed everything I said.
In fact, I’m sure of it.
Being offended for a joke concerning the Ghanaian FA is akin to me being offended when someone makes fun of the US Dep’t of the Treasury. Or the IRS. Meaning, it makes no sense at all. Just like the rest of your arguments.
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United States -
I will try this for the last time. If you don’t get it, we just have to respect each other’s opinins…….It is no joke, and insensitive for a white woman to refer to a black organization as bastards… be mindful that at the back-drop of this statement you have a history of black players enduring the humiliation of monkey chants all accross italy. Maybe in your judgement you don’t think the monkey chants were serious, but it was serious enough for FIFA to step in.
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p’fio i am taking the “bastard” situation lightly, only because it is a light situation… it was a joke, and to say that you dont like it if anyone even jokes about such matters then, i think you need a sense of humor more than anything else! and just one post after you said that you are not generalizing, you accused a poster to being the member of the kkk..
you dont care about my ethnicity simply because it is irrelevant and i didnt pretend to know what kind of racism you have been through because i dont know you and i would hope that you could afford the same favor to me and the other posters(well mainly chris g)!
Im not going to say that the immigration laws of the country are not flawed, because that will be a lie but the world isnt perfect and is not going to be anytime soon, everyone has to get used to it(and before you say that i dont care because i dont have the short end of the stick, im telling you i do have the short end of the stick!)..
your reply to my comment talked about the institutionalized racism in italy, but really i dont see that as relevant to the acceptance of the “bastard” comment as a joke! thats all i spoke about, because i havent ever dealt with itay’s immigration laws so im not qualified to make a comment.. how you feel about their laws is your business similar to how i feel about us or uae immigration laws.. im just here to defend the jovial atmosphere in the blog.Posted from
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p’fio in response to your response to my comment, id just like to say that i have not dealt with the italian immigration laws, and im not qualified to make a comment but how you feel about it is your business similar to how i feel about receiving short end of that stick with us and uae immigration laws but you dont see me enraged here because it is not really relevant to the “bastard” comment..
whether you think sound like them or you or anyone else, doesnt bother me because i believe every word i said, and if you read it again, i never made a comment on those pesky immigration laws, only the bastard comment- pesky is a gross understatment, ofcourse.
moreover, after saying that you were not generalizing an entire nation, you just accused a poster for being a member of the kkk!
im taking the situation lightly simply because she never talked about the immigration laws! you did! if she mentioned something about how great those immigration laws were then sure as hell i would join you in that fight.. but she didn’t and she wouldnt because she too wouldnt be qualified to make comment!
all im here to do is to defend the jovial atmosphere of the blog and the lack of seriousness in any and all blog posts.. thats why i come here, if wanted a heated political debated id go elsewhere.Posted from
United Arab Emirates -
no one said that monkey chants weren’t a big deal… i dont know how you got that from the “bastard” comment
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United Arab Emirates -
hah, this comment thingy is seriously disastrous, my comment disappears, and it gives me an error, and then randomly shows it on the thread few hours later… sorry for the double post, i had to actually type the damn thing again coz i thot it was an error!
my bad..
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United Arab Emirates -
Seriously, what the hell does a joke about the Ghanaian FA, which had zero racial tone whatsoever, have to do with monkey chants? Absolutely nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
Until you start realizing this, you’re just making things much worse than they need to be. And I’m not referring to this isolated case.
And I even missed that whole KKK/white power thing. Which is the most racist thing that’s been said here by far. Maybe you should revisit your own thinking as to what is racist and what is not.
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United States -
OK gentlemen. i am done…..It clearly evident that your world view is different from mine. We really don’t have to understand each other, but i am glad we are not friends. Quick reference….remember when OJ simpson was aquited? most blacks thought he was innocent, while most whites thought he was guilty. That was a good test of how racially biased we are as a people, and this is no different.
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United States -
shut the fuck off p’fio…. the problem is ur mind is pre occupied with the negative feelings such as racism thats why u look for them everywhere like in this case…. Think about this have u ever read sarcastic or humorous article written by an american or whites and making fun of some american or some white orgs….. if yes tell if u took those the same way u did this and be honest…..
Posted from
United States
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