The corona pandemic has ruined many plans – also for Ali Koller. What the student was planning in the USA and how he is now keeping hope alive at home in Rottenbauer.
Photo: Koller
Ali Koller actually wanted to prepare for the upcoming college exams in Young Harris, where he has been studying since 2018. To do this, enjoy the spring with his fellow students and then possibly grab his first professional contract during the annual tryouts in May. However, these plans burst a few weeks ago after the corona pandemic continued to spread.
Instead of attending lectures in the north of Georgia on the border with North Carolina, where Young Harris is located, Koller is now sitting in his living room in the Rottenbauer district of Wrzburg and is trying to learn the material for his management and finance studies through online learning. “After the virus broke out, those in charge of the college offered us to finish the courses online, so I immediately booked a flight home,” said the 22-year-old, who will probably stay in Lower Franconia until August and also his football career must put on ice once.
It had just gone very well for Koller. In the past college season, which always takes place from August to December, he was a regular player in his team and scored several goals. The defender was even elected to the Peach Belt Conference Allstar team to which Young Harris College is assigned. Wrzburg was also one of the best kickers in the entire southeast. Koller also left his very good impression in the friendly matches against professional teams, which always take place in the spring in the non-play time. The reward would have been participation in the Summer League in May, in which talented college footballers kicked for amateur clubs. He could also have recommended the so-called try-outs for professional clubs. “My coach had supported and suggested me. But unfortunately, nothing will come of it now,” said the defender, who is happy that things are going so well at the moment.
Photo: Photo Koller
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Because its launch was anything but smooth in the United States. The 22-year-old lacked the right to play for the first semester. Koller, who suffered an ankle fracture and a torn syndrome during training in winter 2017, decided to move to college. “I could have recommended myself to the professional squad via the Kickers U23 or switched to a regional league. But I didn’t want to do that,” recalls Koller, who had been a regular with the young red trousers for years and probably after New year would have signed his first professional contract.
Instead, Christian Demirtas, Koller’s coach at the time, made contact with an agency that provides sports scholarships. This then made him some offers. Ultimately, the best suited to Wrzburger was that of Young Harris College. There, a Scotsman trains the football team, which primarily relies on Europeans with good football training. “I enjoy playing soccer there. While others play very athletically and with a strong body, our coach relies on technical skills,” says Koller, who has now settled in very well. In the beginning he had to struggle with the Scottish accent of his trainer and homesickness. “I am an absolute family man. I have close contact with my siblings and I call my family almost every day,” explains Koller.
Photo: Frank Kranewitter
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It also gives him the necessary strength for the tasks at hand whenever Corona allows it. Because the 22-year-old, who also kicked in the youth centers in Frth and Ingolstadt before returning to the Wrzburger Kickers in the U19, would first like to do his bachelor’s degree and further improve his market value. After that, a master’s degree combined with college football, a professional contract or the return to Germany to work are possible. “What comes after that is a dream of the future. But studying is the top priority,” says Koller, who continues to dream of professional football.
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Rottenbauer
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Alexander Rausch
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Christian Demirtas
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FC Wrzburger Kickers
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Spring
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Fellow students
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management
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Plans
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Professional soccer player
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Professional football
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semester
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Students
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lectures
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