With the widespread coverage of sports in the media these days, up-and-coming football players are often branded by journalists with catchy phrases and nicknames.
How often have you heard about ‘the next Harry Kewell’, ‘the next Mark Viduka’, ‘the teenage scoring sensation’, ‘the young wizard of Oz’, ‘the speed machine’ and even ‘the fuzzy red-headed angel’.
But how would you like to be the best young striker in the country, on the verge of breaking into big-time football, and all you get labelled is ‘troubled’ or ‘misguided’.
Well, troubled and misguided Australian football player Kerem Bulut got a second chance at a football life this week. Quite frankly, another chance that not too many in his position would have deserved.
Bulut and a few of his Berala mates were under investigation for gang-related activities including gang violence, theft, harassment, and assault. Bulut then breached his bail conditions for the aforementioned offences.
Bulut is also a very good footballer and goalscorer. A graduate of the NSW Institute of Sport, he was selected for the Australian Under 17s side and scored 4 goals in 5 appearances against top international opponents.
He was a sensation for the Sydney FC youth team scoring 13 goals and set to become a regular Sydney FC first team player at just 17.
Bulut turned down an offer from Sydney FC and decided to go overseas.
He won his first senior professional football contract at 18 years of age for Mlada Boleslav, currently top four in the Czech first division. He slotted right in as their main striker and Bulut made seven appearances for the Mlada first eleven, before he left to represent Australia at the Asian U19s Championships.
He then became more familiar to a host of Australian football fans and football scouts from around the world, after winning the Golden Boot Award for most goals at the 2010 AFC Under-19 Championship – 9 goals in 11 appearances, including scoring in the final against North Korea.
Bulut never made it back to the Czech Republic, he was arrested upon his return to Australia.
He was subsequently released on bail after surrendering his passport, agreeing not to hang out with the MBM and observing a night time curfew. His blossoming football career was put on hold.
To be brutally honest, a lot of long-suffering Australian football fans were prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. They were willing to overlook a few of his “rough edges”, as long as he got to play for the Socceroos again one day. He has the potential to be that good.
Amazingly, in a surprise announcement at Burwood local court after an appeal by his lawyers, Magistrate Christopher Longley agreed to return Bulut’s passport and allow him to resume his overseas professional football career.
In another piece of good news for Bulut, the crown prosecution did not oppose the application and added that most of the charges against him would be withdrawn. Mr Boyden said his client would now likely only face one lesser charge.
In a letter of support to the Burwood court, FK Mlada Boleslav’s director of sports Ladislav Minar vouched for Bulut’s good character and football potential. He asked that Bulut be allowed to return to his team, for which he has not played since August 2010.
“Kerem is a young professional with undoubted talent representing one of the outstanding sporting talents in his chosen field in his age group in Australia,” Mr Minar said.
“He has the opportunity to further his career and with this will come economic rewards we believe will further distance him from those negative influences around him.”
The other piece of good news is that Bulut is now free to play for the Young Socceroos at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in July. Who could have envisaged a few weeks ago such a dramatic turnaround in Kerem’s footballing fortunes.
“Allowing Kerem to resume his career will present him the much-needed opportunity to separate himself from his current situation,” wrote John Boultbee, head of national youth teams and football development, who also attended Burwood Local Court on the FFA’s behalf.
“We are aware of the need for him to be in a stable, supportive situation, away from less positive influences.”
I hope Kerem realises just how fortunate he is.
I hope he shows the gratitude, discipline and maturity it takes to become a professional football player on the world stage, for his own good, for the benefit of his family, as a role model for his Muslim community and for the good of the future Socceroos.
floppybottom
Guest
why are you calling me pip...? btw : my real name is adam...
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Go away Pip - Boring!
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Pip, you are becoming very boring with all these multiple personalities. The guy has not been convicted of anything - he is innocent until proven guilty. If you read the newspaper reports, his charges have been withdrawn and only one lesser charge of association remains. Unless of course you are an AFL fan - then lets hang the soccer bastard!
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/201746,bulut-wants-second-chance.aspx
Bondy
Guest
bottom , I confess to being one of the naive, as for i didn't believe such things could happen in my sport in this Country.
floppybottom
Guest
i have to say, its really sickening the way you go on and on about what a great player he is when this should have nothing at all to do with it. this isn't a football story. the guy happens to play football.
floppybottom
Guest
what of he had no real future as a footballer or anything more than say ,a factory worker. in that case i guess we should put the boot in and let him learn his lessons in the big house.
floppybottom
Guest
i agree, the author says charges have been withdrawn. this is not the case at all. his charge will likely be downgraded is what the prosecution said. this article is very bias and the charges are hardly "minor" no matter that they will likely be downgraded. they are certaibly more than “rough edges". in general, the author is typical of those in the community willing to forgive anything if you can kick a ball.
Ben G
Guest
Turning up the court in a jumper with a gun emblazoned on the front... Clearly a football talent without two brain cells to rub together.
Touchy
Guest
Using drugs and being involved in a serious assualt are two completely different things.
Midfielder
Guest
Not idea ... however this is a very high profile case with media there most days ... cannot see anything other than the book being followed ...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I think you'll find it is purely an evidence and justice related matter. There are enough legal precedents set with sporting identities in Australia to ensure that being handy with a ball isn't going to win the day.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Midi, there are a few other unanswered questions, like why did they drop the charges against him? Lack of evidence or was he treated specially because he plays for Australia? What happened to his mates - did they get the same treatment and leniency?
Phil Osopher
Guest
All sounds like pedantic rubbish to me. Give him back his passport, get him out of Australia and the bad scene he hangs around and he'll be fine. Whats the alternative, ruin his life due to some sort of beaurocratic process. Keith Richards should have been locked up for drug abuse numerous times. What good would that have done society apart form making a few do-gooders happy? Nothing, but it would have caused harm to society thats for sure. Where would we be without Honkey Tonk Women because Keith wasd oing 20 years for dope? Give the kid a chance and get him out of here. Nice article, I was totally unaware of that story and will be following his career with interest.
Midfielder
Guest
A couple of issues .... Bulut was 15 and had only recently turned 15 when these things happened.. not everyone in this gang were so young.. It is unusual for a boy of his age to be charged in a adult court... meaning the charges and what crime occurred have to be very serious... Bulut charge is unclear....... or his role in what happened... What is very clear is Bulut was involved in a very serious offence when he was in relative terms a very young boy, in a town were being in a street gang is often very important... Further there appears to be no doubt something took place and Bulut was there... Justice and punishment are two areas that drive people to many hours of debate.... however all other things considered to send Bulut to jail would not doubt harden him and introduce him to a special kind of university training.... and a life you could argue would be quite anti social... To say this happened when you were very young ... he has a football contract and a club and a career in front of him that will require discipline and hard work ... meaning a chance he could become a role model for street kids like himself... So do we punish and create another angry young man.... or do we see if he has heard his warning and will change for the greater good ... i.e. do we give a young man a break a second start in life.... Were is the justice in punishing him and jail time..... we is the justice for the victim in letting him go.... Headie issues..... which ever way the judge goes people will say his wrong... maybe its time to trust the established systems and let them do their job with all the facts , issues and people in front of them
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
If Bulut loses his way, then Kruse will be our main striker for the 2014 WC finals. But what a strike pair they could make playing together.
Bondy
Guest
I noticed that article in some paper i think Fairfax, and the photo of him outside the court house. What appeared evident is that when Kerem came home he ran into the ill's of the youth of today and fortunately all in sundrie realised it was best for him to play his football abroad away from those distractions.
Con
Guest
i know i know, im laughing at the gang name. letting the community down a bit
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
He is very good Con. I first saw him when he played for Sydney FC youth team. Even as a 16 year old he stood out and scored some marvellous goals against players 3 or four years older than him. Yes, he's been given a second chance and should really make sure he does the right thing. If he gets back into his bad habits, then certainly the courts and even the FFA won't stick by him again. And get rid of that beard - it doesn't help your image Kerem.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Wasn't all that long ago that a certain Robbie Kruise was in trouble in Brisbane. Reading between the lines 'alcohol', 'nightclubbing' and' incidents' were derailing a potential football talent. Robbie seemed to be offered some sort of second chance: moving to the Victory and working hard getting him where he is today is what he has eluded to in recent interviews. Bulut's story is probably worse than Kruise's which makes any sort of second chance Karem gets all the more a test of his character and his ability to overcome it for his own future more than anyone elses. There will be no third chances from FFA and his employer if Bulut gives in to those 'negative influences' again. Perhaps he should have a chat with Robbie about his 'second chance' experience.