Brilliant since his goal against Lorient two weeks ago, Akalé is showing his real worth. A player who is very emotive has found a great home at OM according to Gérard Gili, the Ivory Coast Olympic team coach who could take the player with him to the Games in Beijing.
His sign against a jinx after his goal against Lorient worked like a charm. Since then, Kanga Akalé has put in a series of performances of the highest order. Having a hand in both goals against Lyon and decisive with his pass for Cissé against Metz on Saturday, the Ivory Coast international has turned his season around. So, black magic works? «It’s a gesture that a lot of Ivory Coast players use (getting rid of bad luck by moving your hands from the head towards the ground) it’s mystical , says Gérard Gili, former OM and Ivory Coast coach, now in charge of the Ivory Coast Olympic team, but I think that even if Kanga thought that luck was against him, he must have also realised that he hadn’t put in quite enough effort to change things.»
The Olympic games as reward?
The Olympic team coach, Gérard Gili was in charge of the national team during the 2008 ANC (knocked out in the semi-finals) as Uli Stielike had to step down just before the competition becuse of a family tragedy. «If I’d picked the squad for the ANC I would have picked Kanga», expliains the coach. But the OM player could have another chance with the Games in Beijing this summer, as the Ivory Coast are qualified. Three over 23 players are allowed to be part of the squad for the Games. So Akalé in Beijing? «It’s a possibility, reveals the trainer, I still have two and a half months to draw up my list and he is one of the players that could be called up. I’ll make my choice based on the needs of the squad and the availability of the players.»
OM’s coach from the double year of 89 hits on the winger’s main characteristic : «He is an excellent player, and is very emotive , states Gili, I had the chance to rub shoulders with him during the 2006 ANC and the World Cup, and Kanga is someone that needs a lot of attention. He can be a bit of a grouch when you first see him but if you don’t give up on him and keep at him, he becomes a player capable of making the difference all by himself and that’s what is happening at the moment for him at OM.»
And the result is clear to see on the pitch with his great dribbling down the right wing (for the left footed player : «playing on the right allows him to turn back inside, which is doubly dangerous » explains Gili), and great passing … He has become one of the three points of the offensive trident put in place by Gerets, alongside Niang on the left and Cissé in the middle with Valbuena out injured. «He has become an extraordinary offensive arm with his quality of crossing that comes from the school at Auxerre » continues the trainer.
The terrible start of the season with Lens and the poor first few months with OM seem to be well behind him. « OM is the perfect club for players who are in doubtas there is no neutrality in Marseille, there is nowhere to hide , says Gili, I’m not surprised he is succeeding. He arrived with his morale in his boots and there was only one club that was going to bring back his joy of playing football and that club is OM. It’s good for both parties, especially as Kanga needs a guide.» Has Eric Gerets put him back on the rails? «More than the results, the relationship that Gerets can have with his players shows that he can take them to their top mental level as well and after that everything else become more efficient.»
«He has come a long way as he was only a substitute at his former club, all this has to be building up his confidence » confides Gerets on the evening of Akalé’s renaissance against Lorient. A level of confidence that seems to have come completely back for the player who is still on loan from RC Lens. He has recently stated his desire to continue the adventure with OM next season.
