Mohamed Toure: The 15-year-old who is the talk of Australian football


Adelaide United players celebrate Toure's goal. Photo: AAP
Mohamed Toure is the talk of Australian football after the 15-year-old smashed an A-League record and scored in Adelaide Unitedâs 2-0 Round 19 win over Central Coast Mariners.
At just 15 years and 325 days, Toure became the A-Leagueâs youngest-ever goalscorer, taking the record from Tommy Oar.
Oar had just turned 17 when he set the previous benchmark way back in 2008 with Brisbane Roar, but Toure broke the record by more than a year and set tongues wagging with his second impressive cameo in as many matches.
Toureâs power and trickery were immediately evident in an eye-catching eight-minute cameo against the Roar in Round 18.
Tweet from @FOXFOOTBALL
That meant it was no surprise that Adelaide boss Gertjan Verbeek turned to the teen with Fridayâs fixture against Central Coast locked at 0-0.
And after George Blackwood gave the Reds the lead, Toure was on hand to seal Adelaideâs victory and spark big celebrations inside Coopers Stadium.
Speaking to Fox Sports after the match, Toure said: âIt feels surreal. Never thought of doing it in a million years â not at 15.
âSo itâs an amazing feeling, especially at home, in front of my friends and family.â
Watch the goal
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Toure had only signed a three-year scholarship contract with Adelaide on Thursday.
The âgood storyâ football needs
Bruce Djite knows a thing or two about scoring goals for Adelaide United.
The ex-Socceroo is the clubâs all-time top scorer and now works for United as director of football.
Djite said he was âout of my seatâ when Toure scored and that the teenagerâs goal was a great boost for football.
âFootball in Australia is crying out for a good story,â Djite told The New Daily.
âItâs a positive story in the sense that [Mohamed is the] youngest scorer of an A-League goal, 15 years old, third-youngest player to make their debut.
âIt was a very good performance, of course, similar to last week. Obviously, this week he scores the goal ⌠fantastic feat for him.â
Djite said Toure deserved immense credit for taking his chance in recent weeks, which he acknowledged came quicker than expected.
âHeâs been lucky in the sense that we have been going through a bit of an injury crisis ⌠credit to him, heâs really taking the opportunity,â he said.
Dealing with the hype
Toure was flanked by his older brother, Adelaide Unitedâs Al Hassan Toure, during his post-match interview.
Regular media appearances from the 15-year-old are unlikely for the time being, Djite explained.
âWe discussed it a couple of weeks ago [how to deal with the attention] prior to his selection in the squad for the Brisbane Roar game,â he said.
âWe will keep him out of the media spotlight, thatâs for sure, as much as we can.
âFrom his side ⌠itâs about doing what he has been doing.
âItâs about staying humble, listening to what the coach says, not getting too excited when things go well and not getting too down when things donât go well.â
Djite said that Adelaide was âwell aware how quickly things can change in football and how important it is that young people keep their feet on the groundâ.
But the retired striker does not expect the hype to faze the record-breaker.
âTo his credit, heâs not a nervous type of guy when he crosses that white line,â he added.
The example
Mohamedâs older brother â who was also born in Guinea â has been an important figure for Adelaide this season.
Al Hassan Toure scored five goals in as many matches in the clubâs successful FFA Cup run, highlighted by a man-of-the-match performance in the FFA Cup Final.
The 19-year-old won the Mark Viduka Medal for best afield in that match, and also played for the Australia Under-23âs last month at the AFC Championship.
Graham Arnoldâs men finished third at that event, qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics football tournament.
Al Hassan Toure is currently injured and expected to miss another six weeks.
It means fans will have to wait for the Toure brothers to play together. That will be worth watching.
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