“Good things are going to come for Alou”: Mariners keep Kuol’s feet planted amidst growing buzz for rising star

Central Coast Mariners veteran Matt Simon says there’s a bright future ahead of Alou Kuol, providing exciting teenage striker keeps his head down and continues to work on his craft.

Kuol’s barnstorming start to the 2020/21 A-League campaign has garnished five goals from seven games, including a second-half brace which sealed a 3-2 win for the Mariners over Western United and took Kuol level with Brisbane Roar’s Dylan Wenzel-Halls at the top of the A-League Golden Boot standings.

The 19-year-old has taken the A-League by storm with his boundless energy, athletic style of play and warm charisma as the surging Mariners have quickly become one of the most watchable teams in the competition. 

But the experienced Simon says there’s still a lot of work to be done for Kuol to fulfil the potential he’s shown in a spattering of magnificent moments just seven games through the 2020/21 A-League campaign, including the brilliance shown to dispatch his two headed goals against United.

“They’re out of the top draw those headers,” Simon told FOX Sports post-match.

“He’s doing really, really well.

“We’re just making sure that he doesn’t go and get too far ahead of himself, and he just keeps working hard, and good things are going to come for Alou.”

MATCH REPORT: Central Coast Mariners 3-2 Western United

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If there were any concerns surrounding Kuol’s mindset after his rapid rise to A-League stardom, the South Sudanese-born forward put those fears to bed in an engaging post-match interview, directly after his heroics had helped snatch victory for the Mariners from the jaws of defeat. 

“I enjoyed it very much, I couldn’t be happier,” Kuol said.

“Two goals and coming from behind – it shows what we’re made of. 

Don’t write us out, we’re working hard – it’s been drilled into us since pre-season. 

Hard work is going to get us there, and that’s what we’ve done today. So don’t give up, we keep going.”

Kuol continued: “I just want to keep playing, get better as I develop this year. 

“I really want to develop and keep getting game time.”

MATCH REPORT: Adelaide United 1-2 Perth Glory
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Alou Kuol

Kuol’s impact against United came from a 30-minute cameo off the bench. It’s the second game in a row Mariners boss Alen Stajcic has used his attacking weapon as a second-half substitute after Kuol played from the start against Wellington Phoenix in Matchweek 6 – his first and only start of the campaign.

But buying into Stajcic’s hard working, team oriented coaching style – along with adding to his deepening bag of goals – will go a long way toward Kuol earning a starting shirt consistently in Stajcic’s side, who much like Kuol needs to avoid relishing in his side’s so-far promising start to the campaign and continue to work and plan for what’s ahead this season.

“I think I’m pretty good at all that stuff – probably too much to be honest,” Stajcic said when assessing his ability to remain grounded.

“You want to sort of enjoy the moment as well, but my feet are firmly planted on the ground and I’m sure everyone else will be tomorrow. 

“They can enjoy that tonight – you’ve got to enjoy the good moments in football, and lord knows we’ve had so many tough ones. 

“The boys are going to enjoy that, then we’ll get back to work tomorrow.”

Central Coast Mariners

“It was such a courageous performance,” Stajcic said.

“I thought it was the least amount of energy we carried into the beginning of a game… third game in a week, I think it really took its toll.

“For the boys to fight back not only the scoreline but the energy and physical presence throughout that second half was just amazing.

“Just an amazing performance in terms of resilience and courage, we can’t do anymore than that. 

Ultimately it just shows the courage and resilience of the group. I’ve said it over the last six or seven weeks that belief and confidence is building, and I think that’s a great example of that.”

Next Matches

Western United v Sydney FC
Saturday, February 13 2021
Venue: AAMI Park
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Match centre

Adelaide United v Central Coast Mariners
Friday, February 19 2021
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Match centre