For several other players though, their route has taken them the opposite direction. Pablo Thiam is an established Bundesliga player who has just been signed by German champions Bayern Munich from VfB Stuttgart. He has lived in Germany all his life. His thick accent gives him away as a Cologne native. Yet he plays international football for Guinea, the country of his father.
Every player dreams of playing international football.
I am no different. And when I was given the chance of playing for Guinea, I would have been silly not to take it. Even though I have lived in Germany all my life, Guinea has been a part of my upbringing. Another player, who has chosen to play international football for his parents country, is Michel Dinzey. He, too, was born in Germany but now plays for the DR Congo.