Garang Kuol could be about to become one of the most talked-about teenagers in the world but you wouldn’t know it as the 18-year-old Socceroos star heads into his first World Cup with a cool, calm focus.
Kuol is the second youngest player at this year’s World Cup, behind only Germany’s Youssoufa Moukoko. The story of his remarkable rise has garnered global attention as many international media annoint him as one of the young stars of the tournament to watch.
That sort of hype could easily overwhelm a player who is yet to even start a professional match, but Kuol is no ordinary teenager.
“I don’t really pay attention to what’s said around me,” Kuol said as he fronted a media conference in Doha on Friday.
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“I’m just really focused on what I do on the field in training and games.
“If I’m not playing well, I’m not going to go and look at something online to cheer me up. What I look for is what makes me happy and what gives me that motivation to keep pushing forward.”
Kuol would become the youngest Socceroo to play at a World Cup if he takes the field in Qatar but says that’s “just a label”.
He’s focused on making a real impact and his stunning recent performances for Central Coast off the bench, and an eye catching international debut against New Zealand in September, suggest he can do it.
“I’ve got to perform on the field” he said, adding he only had a few “chilled conversations with coach Graham Arnold this week.
“For me it’s all about just having confidence in yourself and being ruthless and having that mindset to want to create something and make an impact.”
Kuol got a taste of the jump in level he faces when the Socceroos held a 11 v 11 practice match on a warm Thursday evening in Doha.
“The intensity was killer,” Kuol said.
“Just still getting used to it, you know. The boys play quick and the ball zips around so there was a whole lot of chasing.
“It was three sets of 13 minutes, I played all three of those. We just tried to mirror what France would do.”
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While Kuol has not started an A-League game he has six goals and 3 assists in 327 minutes for the Mariners — remarkably a goal involvement every 36 minutes.
He will officially join Premier League side Newcastle United and could be loaned out to another club meaning European fans will also be keenly watching his progress in Qatar.
