“I think no matter what quality a player offers … it is like being collectors that collect players for the sake of collecting,” Osieck said. “Four weeks ago no one talks about him and he did not even play, and now all of a suddenly he becomes the object of desire.”
Osieck, as a German national, would have a well-formed opinion on the TFF, with Germany and Turkey having several battles over the years for national team players such as Mesut Ozil, Serdar Tasci, Nuri Sahi and the Altintop brothers to name a few, given Turks represent the largest ethnic minority in the Fatherland.
But this is not about the Turkish.
Turkey boss Guus Hiddink has been shrewd and clearly ruffled a few feathers in doing so, but he’s got his man. They have not broken any rules and that’s the nature of international football.
Australia needs to realise this and the sooner we do, the better off we will be.
Yet we have seen these issues before – Josip Simunic, Joey Didulica, Ante Seric – but it appears those running the Socceroos show have not learned anything from them.
In this instance, at the end of the day, Gulum’s decision was his decision.
Gulum said: “My family heritage is of Turkish descent and I am as Turkish as I am Australian. I walk the streets of Istanbul feeling right at home as I did in the back streets of Meadow Heights. It is the birth place of my parents, who also currently live in Turkey.
“People would have differing views about my decision to play for Turkey, and I can assure everyone that it wasn’t an easy one.”
You have got to respect him for making the decision either way, but what is alarming from an Australian perspective is the fact he named a complete lack of contact from the Socceroos set-up, at all age levels, as a reason behind his decision.
The most damning aspect was when he said: “The first bit of contact came last week after the Turkish national team had called me for a possible call-up.”
Yes, Gulum had been capped at under-23 level for Australia, but that was way back before the 2008 Olympics which he missed out on selection for.
So if Osieck contacting him recently following his promotion to the Besiktas first-team was the first he had heard from the Socceroos set-up, at all age levels, in over two years then that’s a ridiculous situation, especially after he was named in the Turkish second tier team of the season last year.
Everyone has had their say on this issue and people have pointed the finger at Graham Arnold and Pim Verbeek, but someone needs to be making these people accountable.
Maybe Gulum was deemed not worthy of a call-up to the senior team or the youth set-up, but given his pedigree surely someone needed to keep in contact with the player. At least let him know what he needed to do to get a look-in.
Australia is in a unique situation in the world of football, given the volume of players playing abroad, so systems and structures need to be put in place to ensure the FFA can maintain contact with these footballers.
If something was in place, maybe Gulum’s decision would have been different. His comments certainly suggest so.
And yes, Australia has had some success winning these dual nationality battles in recent times with players like Rhys Williams and Shane Lowry committing to the Socceroos, but Gulum’s saga shows there is a clear systematic issue which needs to be resolved.
Alarmingly, I was in contact with another promising Australian-born talent, Newcastle’s 18-year-old Bradden Inman, back in August just after Osieck took over and he said he had not heard anything from the Socceroos set-up.
Overnight Inman, who is nicknamed Kaka, was due to take his place in the Scotland Under-21 side which faced Northern Ireland’s Under-21 side.
And while back in August after his Scotland Under-21s debut, Inman admitted he was still undecided about his international future, time is ticking away.
Let’s hope we have learned something from this episode.
Hellenicoz
Guest
It should be the National Team Coach/Managers job to ask for all the possible national team players. As national team coach he has plently of time. Its not like club football/soccer where they play at least once a week. Ersan Gulum is on loan to Besiktas & under a lots of pressure from the media & Besiktas supporters to play for Turkey & not Australia, but in the end it should be up to Ersan Gulum & whats is best for him, not his father or Besiktas. If Ersan Gulum changes his mind before Turkey cap him against the Korea Republic in February 2011 & informs the FFA that he is still available to play for Australia against Germany on March 29, 2011, Holger Osiek would be very happy & would have him starting the match. If Besiktas are not happy with him choosing Australia over Turkey then Galatasaray & many German Bundesliga team's would be happy to sign him up for bigger contracts than what Besiktas will offer once his loan deal expires. Turkey will cap him against the Korea Republic in February 2011 & then hardly playing again. He will probably be waisted with 5 senior international caps for Turkey & once Besiktas dont want him, will throw him out like a dog. For Australia he will finish his career with over 50 senior international caps, having played for Besiktas & in other big leagues like the German Bundesliga & English Premier League. When he finishes his career, he will have lots of opportunities in the media & coaching with his exposure, plus living in a beautiful country like Australia for him & his family.
Chris
Guest
If Guus didn't pick Gulum for that game there's still hope we can get him. Look at Sasa Ognenovski - he opted to represent Macedonia because Pim wouldn't pick him, he didn't play a game for Macedonia, Holger comes in and gives him the game time he deserves. Come on Holger, call him up and offer him a place in the AFC squad!
dasilva
Roar Guru
To be honest I actually support Gulum effort for one reason only. He choose to migrate to Turkey. Since he actually lived in Turkey he will now have an inform choice over which country is "better" and more suitable for him (rather than people who never actually lived in that country). If he didn't have Turkish parents I would have still support his choice to choose Turkey over australia as he lived there for the last 5 years. I just reject the idea that heritage is important in determining national identity. Now looking back at his statement, I do admit that perhaps I'm guilty of climbing on the soap box a bit to quickly IN any case, even if Gulum didn't migrate to Turkey and was currently playing in another league and was selected in the Turkey squad. I wouldn't necessary blame him (too much) but more to FIFA with their overly broad nationality eligibility rules. After all players are professional and in the end they are just looking after their career. In fact, I'll admit I may be tempted as well. However it's FIFA who are there to maintain the integrity of international football
BigAl
Guest
I agree ! - give this kid a break - cut with all the nationalistic mumbo jumbo. He's just taking the oportunities as they present themselves in an uncertain world.
DERBY COUNTY FC
Guest
dasilva I can understand where you are coming from but understand the young lads position. This may be his only chance to play international football, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't blame him, blame the FFA.
dasilva
Guest
Yeah but isn't the freedom to be Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Lebanese is part of Australian culture. IMO going to muslim mosque, buddhist temple, various ethnic restaurants, celebrate chinese new year, speaking the language of the parent etc is just as part of Australian culture as playing Cricket and having a BBQ. The fact that they are able to be different to the mainstream without being socially ostracised is a reflection of Australian culture and values and people are practicising Australian culture without even realising it. IMO putting your loyalties of a country you never lived in is disrespectful of the liberal nature of Australian society and hte freedom to practice your own cultural values. It's a reason why people are now questioning the multicultural elements of Australian society and how the word multicultural is becoming more tainted when at heart it is a good idea. Whatever cultural background you have and whatever personality you have no matter how different you are from the mainstream and no matter how different you behave, you do it as an Australian. As multicultural means many culture but one Australia. The one australia part of multiculturalism is unfortunately slowly becoming forgotten.
Tortion
Guest
True. Try counting the western countries that aren't multicultural. Germany for one can tell you all about players playing for other countries. Have you seen the England squad? What about Albania? 11 Frenchmen. Amazing.
Mick
Guest
Don't blame Australia for this. This is the fault of an impatient player who somehow thinks he's self-entitled to a call up form the Socceroos. Osieck's only been in the job six months and already people are expecting him to know about a fringe player who just stepped up to 1st division in Turkey? Not to mention those shady citizenship credentials. If Ersan had just waited for the new systems to be put in place and earnt some attention, then he might have deserved a call up. Now he can forget. You don't get second chances. Either you're an Aussie or your not.
sloper
Guest
I've always felt that one of the lovely aspects of civilized Australia was the freedom of people to be Australian, but also to be Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Lebanese etc. Heritage is important, the culture, the language and the food; and we're a better country for it. Could the lad just be confused to where his desire lies and so has taken the easiest option of "first in, first served". If he goes on to be a success for Turkey, good on him, there'll always be a part of him thats Australian. And lets face it, being a supplier of talent to the world's teams is laudable anyway.
gazz
Roar Pro
it's a problem cos Australia missed out on a talent. had we handled the situation better, we may not have missed out.
gazz
Roar Pro
Maybe Damien should be on the payroll at the FFA. he does a great job!
gazz
Roar Pro
To be fair, he's a midfielder and has been played out of position most of his international career.
gazz
Roar Pro
Is it that simple? I thought you had to go through a FIFA process. i'm not certain its as easy as saying i pledge my allegiance here now... correct me if im wrong???
gazz
Roar Pro
I guess its also the downside of being such a multicultural nation too...
Con Stamocostas
Roar Pro
Hey Fussball, he does send it to people at the FFA. All the relevant folk get it. So there is no excuse that they don't know who is playing where. It's also sent to the football media as well. That is 10-11 extra teams we could have.
jimbo
Roar Guru
We are not hypocrites and do not have double standards. Gulum was born in Australia and grew up in Australia and has Turkish heritage - he is free to play for either country. Gulum told both the FFA and the Turkish FA that he wants to play for them and then he waits to see who picks him first. He also threatens and says if you don't pick me I'll play for another country. Australians don't chose which country he plays for - the player does.
True Tah
Guest
ballboy what is someones true country?
dasilva
Guest
Play for the country that's given him the opportunity to succeed Well his formative years in Australia certainly helped him to achieve. Yet the Turkish clubs took a punt on him and gave him a career opportunity in Turkey. They must have played an important role in his development as well. Australia may have build the base but turkey may have shaped him into an international standard player. If he remained in australia, would he have developed to be good enough to be picked for a national team? maybe yes and maybe no. If Australia not picking him and Turkey is. Then isn't it Turkey giving him the opportunity to succeed? Also remember that Gulum's parents are actually living in Turkey right now. So essentially Gulum and his entire immediate family migrated back to Turkey.
Mick
Guest
dasilva, if a migrant became an Australian citizen and renounced their birth country citizenship, then I would have an issue with them playing for their old country if they were given a call up. If however, they held dual nationality, then the issue becomes a little murky, but I would still say that if they moved to Australia for a better life, then they should play for the country which has given them the opportunity to succeed. I believe Ersan is a dual citizen, but as I said, if he spent his formative years in Australia going through our football system, then he should play here, even if he did live in Turkey for 5 years (which I wasn't aware of before).
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Con Thanks for the link - that is an amazing list. 142 Aussies playing professional football overseas ... imagine if you took 142 professional Aussie Rules or Rugby League players - including the best 20-30 players in the country - out of the AFL & NRL respectively. I wonder what would happen to those leagues? Only last Monday, on TWG, Foz was asking whether the FFA keeps a database of Aussies playing abroad so, perhaps, Damian Davies should send ("sell"?) the databse to the FFA? PS: I think you're doing the lad Billy Tsolovos an injustice ... he doesn't look a day over 17 ;-)