Origi unites divided Belgium

Belgium is about to break up into two countries — the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and French-speaking Wallonia in the south.
It is a frightening possibility that could unintentionally drag Divock Origi and other players of African descent like Romelu Lukaku and Vincent Kompany into the separation debate. And worse still for Manchester United star, Adnan Januzaj, who besides Belgium can be claimed by Kosovo, Albania, England and Croatia.

The pessimistic view here, such as that espoused by motherjones.com’s Sam Brodey, is “by the time the next Cup kicks off in 2018, Belgium may not exist at all.”
Belgium’s impressive performance at this edition of Fifa World Cup has inevitably been touted as a unifying force in view of the separatist undercurrents back in Brussels. Politicians in Flanders—which became wealthier than industrial, coal-mining Wallonia in postwar Europe—have pushed for independence, leading to serious strife between the country’s two largest political parties.

The Dutch-speaking New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and the French-speaking Christian Democrats, failed to form a government last week when Flemish leaders walked away from coalition talks, according to motherjones.com.
Kompany, whose father is from Democratic Republic of Congo, recently tweeted, “Proud of my team, proud of our country, together we can achieve anything #Belgium.”

Origi, who has been a revelation at this World Cup, speaks Flemish and French and, of course Kiswahili of his Kenyan parents, Mike Okoth and Linda Adhiambo. However, the political situation in Belgium somehow adds pressure of a different dimension on the young Origi in contrast to say, Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen.
Chelsea star Hazard is a Francophone from Wallonia; Vertonghen of Tottenham is a Flemish speaker from Flanders.
Although Origi speaks both languages, he is not from either ethnic groups but just as Hazard and Vertonghen he represents the mixed face of the national team.
In a recent interview with KTN Sports in Sao Paolo, Divock Origi’s mother spoke of her family’s dilemma. The children, having been born in Belgium feel Belgian and still are proud of their Kenyan roots.
“It is difficult sometimes living in Belgium because at some point you really feel you don’t belong. When you visit Kenya after being away for too long you don’t feel like you belong. But as parents we feel at home when in Kenya,” Linda told KTN Sports.

At just 19 years of age, it is clear Origi family’s stay in Belgium rests on the youngster’s shoulders.
As if that is not enough, Origi must now shoulder the responsibility of uniting 11.1 million Belgians with a performance that must drive the Red Devils past Argentina.

If Marc Wilmots’ army will not be able to prevent the disintegration of Belgium, then they will inevitably join the list of such players as Dejan Savicevic, Davor Suker and Roberto Prosinecki who turned out for Yugoslavia at Italia 90 before it broke and later for Croatia.