Brisbane Roar’s outstanding start to the A-League season has earned global admirers, with German club Borussia Monchengladbach pouncing to sign striker Kwame Yeboah.
The 19-year-old from the Gold Coast has flown to Germany for a medical with the five-time Bundesliga winners and will miss Friday night’s clash with Newcastle before returning for a farewell appearance against Sydney FC on Boxing Day.
Rather than seeing the signing as a hit to Mike Mulvey’s young squad, the Roar’s football director Ken Stead said it was a great achievement for both player and club.
“We will not stand in the way of opportunities like this for our young players,” he said.
Announcing the move on Thursday morning, Mulvey said the “substantial offer” was too good to refuse for Yeboah and the club was already working on a replacement.
Five points clear on the top of the league, Mulvey was bullish on his team’s prospects for the long run-in.
“I’ve felt it all along that we will be much better, be stronger and play better football in the second half of the season,” he said.
With Central Coast, Western Sydney Wanderers and potentially Melbourne Victory all devoting time to their Asian Champions League campaigns, Mulvey spoke of the Roar’s competitive advantage.
“They’ve got Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday (games) for six weeks… that’s very, very difficult.”
“If we really dig deep now and make sure we’ve got points in the bag, it’s going to count for a lot at the end of the season.”
The Jets have a good record at Suncorp Stadium, with just one loss to the Roar in their past five trips, and gave the Roar one of their only losses this season last time out.
Adam Taggart fired the Jets to a 2-1 win in the wet but Gary van Egmond will hope to have Nathan Burns available again after he missed in their loss to the Wanderers last weekend.
JAJI
Guest
Halloran arguably doing better than Kruse was in his first year at the same club
JAJI
Guest
Herd hasn't be loaned anywhere - played on the weekend for Villa
fadida
Guest
being at a Bundesliga club is much better than being picked for the Young Socceroos! If he turns out to be a star then he'll be available on FIFA international dates :) Chris Herd's issues are 1) always injured 2) overrated - it's assumed that because he is at an EPL club he is therefore international quality. There is no such evidence as yet. If he was any good they wouldn't have loaned him out. And if he turns out to be a player then AP will pick him
Sports Candy
Roar Pro
The main problem is that the clubs don't let them play in friendlies and tournaments - the Young Socceroos, the Socceroos and the players miss out. Even though they are only playing youth team or reserve or third grade. The players get scared into thinking it will ruin their chances to make the top grade so they withdraw from Aussie teams. Meanwhile they sit on benches and go nowhere. If he stays in Australia he can play for the Young Socceroos. Borussia have already told him he can't play in the Asia U21 tournament early next year. So he misses out on game time and international tournament experience - wasted. The Young Socceroos and maybe the Socceroos lose another exciting prospect. He also doesn't ever get picked for Australia, because he can't be relied on to play when needed and will rather take the money sitting on the bench back in German second division than play for his country. Chris Herd is a classic example. Always wanted to play for the Socceroos, but always put Aston Villa first so he didn't lose his spot. He's been dropped by Villa and out on loan to a third division team now and will also never be picked for the Socceroos.
Erico77
Guest
Mönchengladbach is a top team in Bundesliga at the moment and with Lucien Favre they have one of the best coaches worldwide in my opinion. With just a small budget, Favre managed to form a very good team that is competitive on the highest level at least in Germany. Favre has the ability to make every player better. Just look at Marco Reus or Dante which under Favre became the players they are now. But don't expect Yeboah to become a fix starter in the first team in the next two or three years. I'm quite sure that Yeboah knows this as well and he goes to Gladbach just to learn and to become a better player and with Favre he's in good hands. Of course at Brisbane he could get much more playing time in HAL where in Gladbach he has just realistic chances for making the reserves/youth teams in the near future. But in the long run it could be at smart move for both sides, just because of Favre's ability to bring out the best in every player, perhaps exept Luuk de Jong at the moment ;-). It just depends on Yeboah's talent and his will to work hard.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
And this is why the A-League needs to start pinging clubs cap room that lose good kids on rent-a-player deals. Yes, kids will want to go to the big leagues - but we *have to* get a return on them.
schwenkfahne
Guest
Playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach II is not ideal but would arguably be of a similar standard to the A-League. Plus if he does well he will get to be coached but a very high quality coach in Lucien Favre. But will he even get a look in? Is he even ready mentally & emotionally? But he isn't getting full games in the A-League yet? Players should be playing regularly before they head overseas.
stanofheart
Guest
Fly Fly Fliy away,come back peter come back paul.There is something very true in the old nursery rimes
fadida
Guest
The "drain" is only an issue when we lose players to weaker leagues, never to be heard of again, eg Devere, Burns. If Yeboah, who goals apart has showed little to demand selection for Roar improves dramatically technically and in game sense this will be a positive
ego2k
Guest
James Brown doing well? when?
holly
Guest
yes they are - currently 4th, equal on points with Dortmund
Ian
Guest
Like you'd say No if you were in the same position.
Franko
Guest
You do have to wonder what would have happened to Gold Coast had Clive not thrown a hissy or the FFA fought a bit harder for them. Ben Halloran - Fortuna Düsseldorf Dino Đulbić - Al-Wahda Kwame Yeboah - Borussia Mönchengladbach Along with James Brown, Michael Thwaite, Adama Traore, Shane Smeltz all doing well in the A-League.
Sports Candy
Roar Pro
Good luck, shame you are leaving. Looked like an exciting prospect and should have got more game time for the Roar. Will you become another unknown statistic, playing in youth leagues and then reserve and third grade for the rest of your life? We have no answer to the Australian football talent drain and the damage to our national youth teams and Socceroos of the future.
jamesb
Guest
"I’m expecting him to have a similar experience to Amini. Which will hopefully involve another stint in the A-League soon" I hope that happens.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'm expecting him to have a similar experience to Amini. Which will hopefully involve another stint in the A-League soon. At just 19, he has a long time to go before anyone can rightfully judge him for his achievements. Speaking of Amini, he has been splitting his time between playing full games with the BVB reserve team and travelling and training with the first team.
Franko
Guest
Transfer fee???
jamesb
Guest
Yeboah will spend a lot of time with the reserves/ youth teams at Borussia Monchengladbach and then is eventually loaned out to some unknown football club at some unknown league in Europe. Very disappointed that Yeboah is leaving...........already! He should have spent at least a couple of seasons in the HAL. But HAL clubs need the money, so they selling their players. BTW, when our players do leave, can't they go to leagues where they realistically have a chance of playing first team football straight up, eg Switzerland or Belgium. Instead all f our young players are going to the Bundesliga without that solid footing from the HAL. I'm just sick and tired of hearing stories of our overseas players receiving very little game time.
clayts
Guest
Wow. Can't even get a start for the Roar. Who is this kid's agent? Deserves every bit of commission he/she gets I reckon. Had to lol at Yeboah's 'farewell game' against the Smurfs. "And ladies and gentlemen, we'd just like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Brisbane Roar Football club to thank Kwame Yeboah for his services. He has been an integral part of our team this season and last, and we wish him all the successes of big league football in Germany. Thank you for your 313 minutes of dutiful service and 2 glorious goals for the Roar. But most of all, we thank you for your biggest contribution to the club and the A League, the Capoeira."
whiskeymac
Guest
Excellent opportunity to continue his development and career. Will he prosper depends on a lot of things no doubt but if he gets game time or is loaned out, good luck to him.