One went on to captain Manchester United and England, but the other lies in a grave - the innocent victim of a drive-by gangland shooting.
Rio Ferdinand wants to break a wall of silence around the murder of family friend Rio McFarlane, 18 - killed in Peckham last September by a bullet meant for someone else.
The Man Utd star is risking the wrath of gangland by making a film with The Sun and Scotland Yard to appeal for witnesses to ease the family's agony.
Its YouTube release today coincides with our offer of a £10,000 reward to nail the killers.
Scotland Yard's Trident unit, which tackles black gun crime in London, is also offering £20,000 for information leading to convictions.
Ferdinand, 32, said: "People need to be brave and tell police who murdered him. It's not grassing someone up, it's giving a family justice."
Tragic victim Rio, who hoped to sign for Portsmouth, had visited a shrine for a pal killed in a crash.
While walking home he chatted with the driver and passenger of a parked silver Lexus, thought to be members of the Peckham Young Gunz gang.
A gunman pulled up and fired at the occupants - but hit Rio in the chest.
Up to 12 people saw his murder but refused to make statements because of gang intimidation.
Ferdinand says in the one-minute film: "If you are afraid, don't be. Your identity can be protected.
Victim Rio grew up in Camberwell, less than a mile from the estate where Ferdinand was raised. He studied sports science and planned to go to university.
His brother Anthony, 31, said: "Rio had nothing to do with gangs. When my dad said, 'Son, your brother is dead' my heart just broke."
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