Cup hero vows to give fans 2,023 free kebabs after signing new deal
A POMPEY FA Cup hero has marked a new contract at the age of 35 by pledging to buy 2,023 doner kebabs for fans.
Veteran midfielder Prince Boateng has penned a fresh 12-month deal with Hertha Berlin.
It extends his stay at the club where his career began, having returned last summer following a pathway which took him to Spurs, AC Milan, Barcelona and Fiorentina.
There was also Pompey, of course, where he netted alongside Frederic Piquionne in their 2-0 FA Cup semi-final success over Harry Redknapp’s Spurs in April 2010.
Boateng subsequently started in the Wembley final against Chelsea, but saw his penalty saved in the 54th minute with the score 0-0.
Just four minutes later, Didier Drogba grabbed the only goal of the game for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
In total, he made 27 appearances and netted five times during the 2009-10 season, which would prove to be the Blues’ last in the Premier League following relegation.
After a successful 2010 World Cup finals for Ghana, Boateng joined Genoa in August 2010, before being loaned out to AC Milan.
He later won Serie A with AC Milan and La Liga with Barcelona, but made just 15 appearances and scored two goals for his country.
Indeed, in a somewhat nomadic career, he has totalled 14 clubs and five countries – and will be 36 when his new deal with Hertha expires.
In a video announcing his contract, Boateng was filmed working in a kebab van and pledged to buy 2,023 doner kebabs for fans before their opening game of the 2022-23 campaign against Eintracht Frankfurt.
He told Hertha Berlin’s official website: ‘Hertha family, this is for you. I am still hungry, and I will give you 2,023 doners for free.
‘I have always said, and shown on and off the pitch, how important this club is for me.
‘I feel good, I am still hungry and I want to continue playing for them.’
Boateng made 21 appearances last season for Hertha, but failed to register a goal or assist as they finished thirdbottom in the Bundesliga.
He featured in the second leg of their relegation play-off against Hamburg, which Hertha won 2-1 on aggregate to remain in the top flight.