In 80-90 years a lot of Africans immigrated in Italy and Tomas Da Roze Barwuah family from Ghana also was among them. Then Mario Balotelli was born in Palermo, Sicily, to Christian Ghanaian immigrants Thomas and Rose Barwuah. The family moved to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy, shortly after he was born. As an infant, he had life-threatening complications with his intestines which led to a series of operations, although his condition had improved by 1992. Mario's health problems and the family's cramped living conditions meant the Barwuahs decided to ask for the help of social services who recommended that he be fostered.
In 1993, the Barwuah family agreed to entrust the three-year-old boy to an Italian foster family, the Balotellis. The Balloteli had three children but in spite of this they loved Mario as their real child. When Mario grow up, he started playing for “Lumezzane”, but soon he became so popular that even “Barcelona” checked him soon.
Soon Mario joined “Inter” Milan and in 2008 Balotelli became the youngest football player of Champions League, who scored a goal, it happened against “Anorthosis”, when Temur Ketsbaia was head coach of “Anorthosis”… When Mario Balotelli became famous, his biological parents asked for his return. He later accused them of "glory hunting", stating that they only wanted him back because of the prominence he had gained, his capricious character is known for everyone, that’s why he was in substitutes for a long time. Emigrant Balloteli, born during the world championship in Italy, took Italy through the final of European championship! After the match, in the mixed zone, where is always noise, when Balloteli appeared whole Italian media approached to him and everyone kept silent, I even did not guess what was going on, as it was cleared up later, broad-shouldered forward was thanking his foster family and he was saying such words, even saw tears in emotional Italians’ eyes…
I cannot remember match from the world football history, when the team which did not kick even one corner kick managed to win! Yes, “Squadra Azzuri” beat Germany without kicking any corner kicks. They did not need corners, because there was wise midfielder Pirlo on the field and Italians were following his constructions well. I expected that Mario Balloteli would be named as the best player of the match by “Carlsberg”, but it chose Pirlo – the third times at this championship and if he goes on in such way, it is not excluded if veteran Italian wins the last prize.
As for Germany, they kicked 14 corner kicks.. they even kicked penalty at the end of the match.. Low’s experiments did not work well, it worked well against Greece, but Italy is Italy, the country which breathes with football and no matter what condition they are in, they are always ready to score decisive goal! Germen were shocked after the match, but none of them went to the dressing-rooms at once after ending the match, as Russians did. First of all they run to the tribunes, thanked the fans and then gave interviews. German journalists were waiting for Philim Lahm captain of the team, who was in doping room and during two hours was being checked, in spite of tiring, he talked to journalists for a long time. As for authority of German football federation, they were checking details of flight. We were staying at the same hotel and left the hotel at the same time. Me and Sami Khedire entered into the hotel together and German fans were greeting him again warmly…
P.S. I was sad that left Warsaw, because I liked the city as well as residents of it very much, but a pleasant surprise was waiting for me in the capital of Ukraine – Michael Platini has just finished press-conferemce, where was said that Tbilisi will hosts UEFA Super Cup. It is noteworthy that Russian journalists also were very happy and they have already started preparation – it is really a good chance to visit your country again, we miss it very much…
Mamuka Kvaratskhelia media officer of UEFA, special from Kiev
