By OkayGoal 
Dela Dzebu, mother of Ghana and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, has delivered a heartfelt message to diaspora parents, acknowledging the emotional difficulty of steering children toward representing Ghana while urging them never to give up.
Speaking at an event, Dzebu laid bare the struggles of raising a footballer abroad, where children often feel caught between two nationalities and cultures.
“The emotional journey is difficult, but you don’t stop. It’s been resilient. Knowing that being in the diaspora and knowing what happens on the streets around us â trust me, it’s hard,” she said.
She recalled the defining conversation with her son when Antoine asked whether to play for England or Ghana. “I said you have to play for Ghana. He asked why. Then I didn’t have any words. I was like, ‘Oh God, in Ghana nothing works.’ He said, ‘If nothing works, why do I have to play for Ghana?’ “
Her answer came from the heart. “You would feel proud to be part of the Ghanaian journey. Football in the UK, for me, is about the boots. Football in Ghana is about blood; it’s about pride, it’s about legacy, it’s about your roots.”
She described the indescribable joy of seeing Antoine wear the Black Stars jersey for the first time. “As a parent, what you feel when he wears his jersey for the first time and the crowd is roaring â you cannot put it in words. It’s amazing.”
Dzebu urged parents to be patient and persistent. “You just need to encourage your kids. Listen, you will never regret it. It’s amazing on a very grand scale.”
Her message is clear: the road is hard, but the destination is worth every step.