Nike & SB @ Berlin - Boateng Brothers #MyGround Recap
To mark the launch of the new Nike FC247 collection, SoccerBible was invited to Berlin for a unique media event used to highlight the the footballing roots of the Boateng brothers - JÉrÔme, George Kevin-Prince. The #MyGround campaign reunited the brothers, bringing them back to where they honed their skills and fell in love with the game.
The specially created space, decorated in graffiti style posters of the Boateng's, housed three individual rooms styled for each of the brothers. From the sneaker room, the barber room, the DJ room and the tattoo studio, each area covered the key cultural aspects that make up the lives of JÉrÔme, George Kevin-Prince.
Speaking to SoccerBible, Nike Senior Product Manager Collin Eder gave his take on the set-up and the new Nike FC247 collection. "The space is fantastic. When you look at this collection, it's really about football anytime, anywhere. What's cool is that it's got a mesh of performance and an urban, kind of street feel."
"The other thing that's really cool is the connection to the Boateng brothers. An amazing story, these guys grew up playing the small sided game on the street. A lot of their success has been attributed to how they played that game growing up."
"It's so cool that they're all unique and different. You've got the shoe room, which has just got loads of different Nike sneakers from our heritage. The barber room is pretty sweet and just being able to see the intention that Kevin-Prince has to getting his hair cut all the time, and blending that with hip-hop culture and music, it just feels right."
After spending the afternoon kicking heels with the Boateng brothers and speaking to Kevin-Prince about football boots and his life off-pitch, it was over to the very spot where they grew up playing football at the Panke - the concrete court by the Panke river where JÉrÔme, George Kevin-Prince would play day a night.
The Panke had a strong influence on us as brothers - small-sided football made us better football players, but also brought us together as brothers. It s very cool to feel the atmosphere here again and pass it on, said Kevin-Prince.
Stay tuned for our full and exclusive interview with Kevin-Prince Boateng coming shortly. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
