‘I was put in a care home until I had a DNA test’ – Ex-England kid fled wartorn Burundi aged 10 as conflict raged on

SAIDO BERAHINO once had a whole host of Premier League heavyweights pining for his signature, but his most recent move saw him playing in the Slovenian second division.

However, despite never quite reaching the levels that were expected of him, Berahino’s story is still remarkable – given his humble beginnings.

Saido Berahino had an incredible start to his careerGetty

Berahino, 32, was born in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, just two months before a civil war broke out in the country that would last for 11 brutal years.

As a kid he would have to collect plastic bags to tie together and make a football from because his family were unable to afford one.

While he lost his father due to the war when he was only four, only finding out later that the conflict was the reason for his death.

Berahino later fled to the UK to be with his mother and siblings in Birmingham, aged just 10.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, he revealed that he had to be put in a care home until a DNA test came back proving that his mum was really his mother.

He said: “It was tough. When I arrived, nobody could get hold of my mum.

“I had to go to a police station, where they found out her contact details had changed.

“They eventually got in touch with her, but I was put in a care home while they checked that she really was my mum, doing DNA and blood tests.”

GettyBerahino represented England at youth level[/caption]

GettyHe also earned a senior callup but never made his debut[/caption]

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Once settled into the UK, Berahino began playing football at school, which led to getting involved in Sunday league before earning himself a place in West Brom’s academy aged 11.

It was with the Baggies where Berahino began to make a name for himself, later making his debut as a 19-year-old.

While he also represented England at youth level all the way from U16s up to U21s, and was rated as one of the Three Lions’ most exciting young prospects.

It never quite worked out for Berahino as far as a senior cap goes, despite earning a call-up from Roy Hodgson in 2014 off the back of an electric start to the 2014/15 Premier League season.

The dream of pulling the shirt on at Wembley couldn’t become a reality after the striker was an unused substitute for both games against Scotland and Slovenia.

Berahino later opted to switch his allegiance back to his birth country of Burundi, a decision that carried an emotional weight that playing for England couldn’t.

He explained: “I later decided to help Burundi qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which we did.

“When I was singing the national anthem, I could feel my father’s soul – it made me want to burst into tears.

“Burundi is a beautiful place, although still behind on things like technology, but we’re working on that. My mum has moved back there as well.”

Berahino’s career in England saw him play across the Premier League, Championship and League One for the likes of West Brom, Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday.

In his pomp he was being linked with a move to Tottenham, but the deal never materialised.

Perhaps if it had, Berahino’s career may have continued its upwards trajectory.

Instead the 18-time Burundi international was unable to reach the pinnacle of the game and has spent the last three years of his career playing in India, Cyprus and Slovenia.

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