Mohamed Toure was encouraged to stay humble just before he became the A-League’s youngest goalscorer
George Blackwood remaining on the pitch to score a cracking opening goal appeared to be fate after a ball to the head and smack to the throat threatened to end his shift early.
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Gertjan Verbeek said he had visions of Mohamed Toure’s leap from Reds youth bench player to an A-League marksman when the 15-year-old gave his two accomplished centre backs a torrid time in practice games.
The Adelaide United boss discovered the younger brother of 19-year-old Al Hassan Toure when he invited him to training.
He made four cameo impressions off the bench in the club’s national youth league side and scored once.
Verbeek said he had never seen Mohamed play in the youth side due to commitments with the first team.
However Verbeek’s calculated risk in blooding the third youngest A-League debutant eight days ago was vindicated at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.
In a frenetic final 14 minutes Mohamed reshaped the destiny of the clash.
Adelaide was at best – until Mohamed was introduced in the 76th minute – heading for a scoreless draw against a very well drilled Central Coast Mariners.
Mohamed had a hand in George Blackwood’s stunning opening goal in the 82nd minute before becoming the youngest A-League goalscorer two minutes later when he latched onto a brilliant Riley McGree assist.
“Sometimes I needed an attacker on the training pitch and we play also friendly games,’’ Verbeek said.
“I saw a lot of potential and when you make a good impression on me in training and do your best, I see that Jordan (Elsey) and Jakob (Michael Jakobsen) struggled when he was playing.
“Then you have some qualities to show that also in the A-League.
“Then I know it won’t be for 90 minutes so for 10, 15 minutes I know he can (do it).
“Now it’s important he stays humble and train hard and learns a lot.
“And probably the most minutes he will play is in the NPL.”
Verbeek said he had instructed Mohamed to use his speed and power to try and break the game open before the teenager ran rampant to grab the new A-League goalscoring record.
Former Brisbane Lions Danny Wright holds the national soccer league Australian youngest goalscoring record when he found the back of the net at just 15 years and 289 days in 1980.
Wright was 36 days younger than Mohamed.
“I talked with the player (Mohamed) already a few times, you want to learn a little bit more about him at first it was a little bit difficult, Al Hassan his brother was away (on Olyroos duty),’’ Verbeek said.
“But when his brother was back I told him and his brother and explained what it is to play in the A-League what is to be a professional and what you have to do.
“That’s not only training hard but also how you eat and sleep and what lifestyle you have.
“And of course he is still going to school, so we have to arrange something with the school.
“So there is assistance to be sure that he is on the right path.
“I told him also the youngest player (to debut) in the A-League (Alusine Fofanah, ex Western Sydney) is now playing NPL (for Adelaide Blue Eagles).”
Verbeek said Adelaide also got lucky when Blackwood stayed on the park after he was grounded by a ball to the head from former Reds defender Ruon Tongyik in the eighth minute.
A groggy Blackwood appeared to be given the all clear from medicos.
He then copped a hit to the throat which threatened to end his shift before his stunning goal which saw the Reds climb to fourth before the weekend’s round is done.
However the Dutchman does have concerns over Stefan Mauk leaving the pitch at half time with a quad injury less than two weeks after the Reds had re-signed the South Australian from Brisbane Roar.
Originally published as Mohamed Toure was encouraged to stay humble just before he became the A-League’s youngest goalscorer