PIC:Brazil's Ronaldo (2nd R) scores his second goal as Germany's Gerald Asamoah (L), Thomas Linke (2nd L) and Carsten Ramelow (R) move in too late during the World Cup final in Yokohama June 30, 2002. Brazil won the match 2-0.

WHEN Germany meet Brazil today in hopefully a classic World Cup Final it will be a personal triumph for Gerald Asamoah, the Schalke 04 midfielder and the first black African to represent Germany.

Against all the odds he will have achieved the ultimate in a footballer's career, even though it may only be as one of the substitutes.

Three years ago doctors informed him he had a heart defect and it appeared his career was over - robbed of his burning ambition to make it into the big-time.

"Doctors urged me to quit. Then a Washington cardiac specialist gave me the go ahead but I never dreamed I would go so far," he told the German magazine "Kicker."

"Although I have been given that medical assurance and obtained a go-ahead permit from the German FA, I realise I'm playing with my own life but on the pitch I just don't think about it."

When 24-year-old Asamoah plays for either Schalke 04 or the German national squad, a defibrillator for resuscitation purposes is always by the side of the bench with paramedics and a doctor available. "I know it is there, yes and I only hope I'll never need it because I've got God on my side . Anyway, it could also be used to save the life of another player."

Asamoah's story is a remarkable one. He could play for Ghana by birthright but, instead, pledged for Germany where he has been living for more than 10 years, is now a German passport holder and, under FIFA regulations, that ensures qualification.

Dad, William, who moved to Hanover from Ghana, always wanted Gerald to wear his country's colours but today is filled with pride when he walks out with the team and is standing for the German national anthem.

German coach, Rudi Voller, has carefully nursed and moulded Asamoah whose message is simple: "Coloured people can also be German and achieve greatness for the country."

He has established a close friendship with Miroslav Klose, the 23- year-old Kaiserslautern striker, and among the leading scorers in this series; he was born in Poland but moved to West Germany when only four with his father, Joseph, a former Auxerre, France, player and mother, Barbara, a Polish netball international.

They thought that Miro, despite his love of football, his potential skills, his enthusiasm, would never reach the required standard so they insisted on him completing his apprenticeship as a roof tiler which is something he never regrets.

Poland were keen he should become a member of their national squad but he preferred Germany. "I've dual nationality but, footballwise, and in every other way, I feel German" he said.

And so, too, does Asamoah for he is an example to everyone by his courage and determination in the face of such medical trauma and adversity.