By Vince Rugari
Socceroos sensation Garang Kuol has finally sealed his loan move from Newcastle United to Scottish club Hearts — hours after his older brother Alou landed a nomination for one of FIFA’s most prestigious awards.
Alou, 21, is in the mix for the Puskas Award, which is given to the player adjudged to have scored the most beautiful or aesthetically pleasing goal of the calendar year, as voted by fans.
The VfB Stuttgart striker scored a cracking ‘scorpion kick’ goal for the Olyroos at the under-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in June, although at the time he openly admitted he didn’t know much about it, having thrown a leg at the ball in vain to try and catch a cross that was flying behind his body.
While it stands out in the 11-strong list of nominations — which includes Kylian Mbappe’s dazzling second goal in the World Cup final, Richarlison’s stunner for Brazil against Serbia earlier in the tournament, and one from Mario Balotelli in Italy — history suggests he will be hard-pressed to actually win it.
Socceroo Riley McGree was also shortlisted for the Puskas Award for his incredible scorpion kick goal for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League semi-finals against Melbourne City in 2018 — but it did not even make the top three, with Liverpool fans throwing their support behind Mohamed Salah’s comparatively ho-hum strike against Everton that year to give him 38 per cent of the vote.
As such, Alou will find it tough to get past the inevitable flood of votes for Mbappe, but he can at least take some solace from what his 18-year-old brother, who also came through the ranks at the Central Coast Mariners, is doing in the football world.
Alou Kuol has been nominated for the prestigious Puskas Award.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Garang officially became a Newcastle player at the opening of the January transfer window and will play out the rest of the 2022-23 season in Scotland, alongside fellow World Cup representatives Kye Rowles, Cammy Devlin and Nathaniel Atkinson at Hearts.
The attacking dynamo became the youngest player since Pele to feature in the knockout phase of the World Cup in Qatar, and came agonisingly close to scoring a last-gasp leveller in the round of 16 against eventual champions Argentina.
“I am very happy to be here. I can’t wait to play here in front of these amazing fans. I just felt it was a great team, with great fans, a great stadium, and a great history,” Kuol told Hearts TV.
“The gaffer (manager Robbie Neilson) also persuaded me to come here with the plan that he put to me for my development.
Hearts’ Socceroos contingent has grown to four with Garang Kuol (second left) joining Nathaniel Atkinson, Cammy Devlin and Kye Rowles.Credit: Getty
“Overall, the club has great ambitions and goals and that was something I wanted to be involved in. I think it was a very good decision.”
Kuol knew Rowles well from their spell together at the Central Coast Mariners.
“He was one of the senior players at the time, but he is a great guy and someone who has helped me a lot,” said Kuol. “As for Cammy, I have known him since about September and we just struck up a connection straight away.
“I met all the other lads today and all they seem great lads and I can’t wait to get to know them more.”
Kuol could go straight into the squad for Friday night’s Premiership match with St Mirren if he can get his international clearance in time.
It was originally thought Kuol would be loaned to Portugal but his appearances at the World Cup enabled him to secure a UK work permit, and Newcastle have seen fit to send him north of the border to Scotland, where the Premiership these days is inundated with Australian players, while Ange Postecoglou looks on course to win another title with Celtic.
with AAP
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