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The Interview: Borussia Dortmund’s Gabriel Kyeremateng On Filling The Big Boots Of Aubameyung & Lewandowski And Says He Might Consider Playing For Ghana

By GHANASPORTS
Football News The Interview: Borussia Dortmunds Gabriel Kyeremateng On Filling The Big Boots Of Aubameyung  Lewandowski And Says He Might Consider Playing For Ghana
DEC 17, 2017 LISTEN

Mere moments had passed since Borussia Dortmund’s U19 side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against their Real Madrid counterparts at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano when a response dropped from the Dortmund-born about Ghana Sports Online’s interview request.

He agreed to grant his first interview to a media house in Ghanaian. And, he talks exclusively to Ghana Sports Online’s El Akyereko.

Dortmund’s lack of form in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League seems to have had a downward effect on the junior ranks. The run in Group H didn’t end well for Benjamin Hoffmann’s boys as they finished third and missed out on a berth in the knock-out run.

But, to Kyeremateng the importance of facing Real Madrid goes beyond just the defeat suffered in 90 minutes of football in Madrid. The 18-year-old is drawing positives from his participation in the game. “It was a good experience to play against these teams [Real Madrid & Tottenham Hotspur]. Because teams like these play different [system from the] German teams so I try to learn from these teams [anytime we face them].”

Despite the challenges in the UEFA Youth League it has been a hard-working start of the season for the youngster who has bagged 5 goals in 7 appearances for the side and, he says he doesn’t mess around with training and keeps his targets close to his focus. “I’ve always trained and worked hard at training [because it is what will propel me to where I want to get to]. I’ve got many targets but I keep it in secret and I always work hard to reach these targets”.

A grin is registered on his face as he is quizzed on how he joined Dortmund and the look of smile eventually melts into nostalgia as he recounts the experience. He reveals Schalke and Bochum both join Dortmund in the chase for his signature. “I’ve been playing for Borussia Dortmund Since I was 8 years old. How I joined BVB? There was a Big tournament with some big teams from the Bundesliga. And after the tournament some teams like Schalke 04, VfL Bochum and Borussia Dortmund wanted to talk with my parents and that’s how I joined this Club.”

After a decade of growing through the ranks at the club, the lightening-pace attacker is seeking to break into the first team and make his impact. “I’m working hard at it and I hope to play for the first team soon.”

Talking about first team football the German U19 international reveals he wants to fill the big boots of Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyung and Polish hit-man Robert Lewandowski who have great reputations with goal-scoring at the Signal-Iduna-Park.

“My favourite strikers of BVB are Aubameyang and Lewandowski because of their speed and ball controls and of course because of their goals. I want to follow in their footsteps and achieve their feat.”

Just as superstars and icons of the game have their challenges youngsters also go through their challenge at every stage of their game. “”When you’re young like me it’s usual that you sometimes sit on the bench Or even don’t play. So it’s important to stay focused, to pray, to believe and to continue to have fun playing football.”

“I want to become better and better. Game after game and improve my play.”

On his international exposure, the teen has already represented Germany at U16 and U19 levels after the European side showed interest in him. And, he believes playing for Germany was a good experience although he might consider a call-up from Ghana in the future. “It was really a good experience playing for Germany. Ghana? maybe. When I get the call-up I might consider it.”

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