Oh brother! Musa Toure latest in football family to impress Verbeek

The Toure family football factory is gearing up to deliver a third member of the clan into the Adelaide United team, with 14-year-old Musa the latest brother to catch the eye of coach Gertjan Verbeek.

Toure

Al Hassan Toure (L), along with brothers Musa (C) and Mohamed Source: Getty Images, Instagram

And the youngster is tipped, by one South Australian development coach who has worked with him, to be even better than his breakthrough brothers, Al Hassan, 19, and 15-year-old Mohamed, whose sudden rise has lit up the A-League.

Staying true to his credo of giving youngsters their wings, Verbeek has identified Musa - who is part of the Reds' youth set-up - as a potential senior debutant next season, when he might conceivably shatter the all-time record for the competition’s youngest ever to take the stage.

Like older siblings, Al Hassan and Mohamed, who on Friday became the A-League’s youngest ever goalscorer in the 2-0 victory over Central Coast, Musa is a striker - but with a difference.
“He’s not so tall as his brothers but is also very talented,” Verbeek told The World Game.

“He can dribble the ball well ... he’s been playing for the reserves (Adelaide’s U-18s) and, just like Al Hassan and Mohamed, he has a lot of potential.

“The father (Amara) has done a good job with these boys in helping them get to this point.”

Amara played as a semi-pro in West Africa, where both Al Hassan and Mohamed were born. 

Musa, who was born in Adelaide, is following the same grassroots trajectory as his siblings, cutting his teeth with Croydon Kings in South Australia’s NPL and joining SA’s NTC program, as he too rises up the ranks.

“He’s not as big or strong as the others but is very technical and he carries the ball well and can beat players very well,” added Verbeek, who has been commended for having the chutzpah to hand Mohamed his debut against Brisbane Roar at just 15 years and 320 days.

The club followed that up by tying Mohamed to a three-year scholarship contract last week, ahead of the Mariners match.

Musa, however, is the most gifted of the trio, according to Croydon Kings’ U-18s coach Steve Pepper.

“He’s smaller but he’s strong and has pace, plenty of skill and an eye for goal,” said Pepper, who has been involved in the development of all three brothers.

“He’s quite similar to Mohamed but if he carries on the way he’s going he’ll be better than both of them. He’s definitely somebody to watch.

“When we did a coaching course last year he was a different level to the other kids out there.

“I could see him playing for Adelaide’s U-21s by the end of the year and from there the first team isn’t far away.

“He’s always stood out with juniors at Croydon also.

“Just like his brothers, he’s a quiet, humble kid. They just come in and go about their business.”

It’s been a dream year for the family, with Al Hassan making his own grand entrance and sealing an Olyroos spot before being stopped in his tracks by a stress fracture which looks like ruling him out for the season.

“I had a chat with the brothers and said to them that maybe next year their younger brother will be on the pay roll,” Verbeek added. “We will wait and see.

“The parents came here through difficult circumstances - it’s hard when you have to leave your her country.

“But they have done so well, and it’s nice to see their boys progressing in football. That’s a credit to them.”


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4 min read
Published 17 February 2020 7:00pm
By Dave Lewis


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