Football is nothing without its mavericks. Unfathomable men and women whose exploits on and off the pitch keep opponents and teammates alike guessing. Players whose downright unpredictability forces fans to fall in love with them. Discussions at football concourses can’t end without featuring such footballers. Asamoah Gyan is one of such.
The 37-year-old is the all-time leading goal scorer of the Ghana men’s senior national team, the Black Stars, with 51 goals in 109 appearances. He has represented the West African nation in seven Africa Cup of Nations and three FIFA World Cup tournaments.
His six goals at the Mundial makes him the top African goal scorer in the history of the world’s biggest sports competition. He won the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2010 and was the AFC Champions League Top Scorer and Foreign Player of the Year in 2014 amid several other individual honours.
After Gyan’s international retirement in 2019, Ghana have struggled to replace him. The likes of Caleb Ekuban, John Antwi, Kwesi Okyere Wriedt, Kwabena Owusu and Emmanuel Gyasi,Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Bernard Tekpetey were roped in but none was able to fill the void vacated by Gyan. Lately, Felix Afena Gyan, Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo have suffered same.
Among a new wave of emerging talents with huge potential tipped to replace the Ghanaian legend is Jesaja Herrmann. Hermann was born to a German mother and a Ghanaian father in Kiel, capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Kiel can lay claim to have seen the formative years of some of the nation’s greats like Max Planck, Peter III of Russia, Prince Sigismund of Prussia, Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker and sports personalities like George Eyser, Andreas Köpke, Heike Henkel, Sidney Sam just to mention but a few.
Largely because of the hard work of his mother, he found himself playing football on the streets of Kiel. He played happily with friends that were the children of migrants from all over the world and, although his surroundings were not the nicest that Schleswig-Holstein has to offer, he chose to cultivate beauty.
With each subtle dribble and feathery touch, the reality of his dark and precarious world would slowly drift away into the abyss. Goals would be scored and joy would reign supreme. In those moments he was free and innocent; a mindstate that all children should be afforded, but far too many are robbed of. This love of the game and the subsequent skills birthed from it would become evident to anyone inclined to take a gander.
It was on these streets that he first caught the eye of onlookers around the country. His solid attacking displays were a product of fantastic athleticism and an innate ability to read the game. At the age of 11 Herrmann would be invited for a trial with Hannover 96. The club were impressed with the striker and signed him on.
At an ensuing youth tournament in Germany, Herrmann’s stellar play began to also tickle the imagination of some top Bundesliga and European clubs including VfL Wolfsburg. The allure of playing abroad was tough to ignore but his mother believed her son’s development would be better served with more time at home.
Some few weeks later a call was made to the Herrmann household, a verbal agreement was swiftly made between brief bouts of delirium induced by the extraordinary nature of the call, and another cross-city move was soon made, this time allowing Jesaja to link up with VFL Wolfsburg.
Adjusting to life away from his family in his new, unfamiliar surroundings did not come easily. While Herrmann may have been the talk of the town in Kiel and Hannover, at Wolfsburg he was one of many talented prospects scratching and clawing to make the first team. Instead of cowering, Herrmann thrived, developing his creative majesty and tapping into a mental fortitude that he didn’t know existed.
Throughout his four-year stay with VFL Wolfsburg, Herrmann established a remorseless reputation in front of goal that earned him regular call-ups to Germany’s youth teams (U15, U16, U17, U18, U19). With many of the continent’s clubs now on high alert, three would step to the forefront in the race for the youngster’s signature in the summer of 2021 but it was Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk that emerged victorious.
“I am very happy to join KV Kortrijk. It is a new beginning for me and I look forward to helping this team do well this season and for the period I will be here,” Herrmann told Omasports after joining the Belgian club.
“They have shown great belief in me, and I am glad to be able to start again here after a difficult period in my career,” he added.
Unfortunately, Herrmann struggled to convince KV Kortrijk despite occasional flashes of his untapped potential. The club believed that in order for Herrmann to reach his full potential, he would not only need to continue in his development physically but mentally as well. In the summer of 2022, the club made the decision to loan him out to NAC Breda in the Dutch league. He has so far scored 2 goals in 19 appearances for the club.
Possessing an appreciable height and brave, Herrmann can hold his own alongside the toughest of centre-backs, but rather than his physique, his guile and intelligent positioning enable him to outwit defenders. His uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time means he regularly finds scoring opportunities.
Equally comfortable going for goal with either foot or with his head, and never afraid to miss, it is no surprise to see him become a mainstay at his new club. With skilful feet and a sharp football brain, he has excellent link-up play and can spot a pass. A willing grafter, he’s also not averse to working the flanks and has decent crossing ability. He loves to contribute to the build-up around the penalty area rather than wait for the ball.
At 23, Herrmann has already drawn comparisons to his idols, Luis Ronaldo and Thierry Henry, for his quick footwork, sharp instincts, and goal-scoring ability. But Herrmann's love for football extends beyond these legendary players.
He also idolises Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaian striker known for his acrobatic goals and charismatic celebrations. With such inspiring role models, it's no wonder that Herrmann is determined to make a name for himself in the world of football and follow in the footsteps of the greats who came before him.
Frankly, apart from wearing a tough resilient character, there is a spark of Asamoah Gyan in the way he moves and what he can do with the ball. At no point in his short career has he shown any fear or doubt in his capabilities.
However, to get anywhere near where the famous Ghanaian’s level, he will have to work hard and continue his development. Creative and dynamic at the same time with good ball control, he possesses all the ingredients to become a complete and quality player.
Jesaja Hermann has been admirer of the Black Stars for a very long time and always harboured some hope of donning the colours of the land of his father. “There is no bigger honour and dream in football than wearing the colours of your motherland and protecting ‘her’ image. It’s everything.” He told kickgh.com
The hardworking player believes he has all the necessary qualities to be a member of the Black Stars and pray Chris Hughton grants him the rare opportunity to prove his mettle.
“My status has changed now. Before I was an amateur,” explained Herrmann, who wants to be in the good books of the new Black Stars gaffer.” I am more mature now and ready to represent Ghana at the highest level.”
In the end, football shows us there are many roads to the top. We’ve seen countless cases of child prodigies who promised plenty but ultimately amounted to little. Similarly, we’ve seen the late bloomers who never quite made it in their pomp but came good in the latter years of their career. Then there are the players who slip through the net altogether. What matters most is that you make it in the end.
So, while Jesaja Herrmann doesn’t have the world talking about him just yet, if his appetite for a big impact on elite-level football is not sated, it may not be long the world will hear of him.
By: Godfred Budu
