Season
12.11.21
Loan players update: This is how things are going with Opoku and Heil
Besides the injured Xavier Amaechi, Aaron Opoku and Ogechika Heil are currently on loan for other clubs. In the loan player update, the youngsters report promising developments and instructive setbacks.
"I feel like a million bucks, the team makes it very easy for me and I get a lot of playing time," says Aaron Opoku about his current situation at VfL Osnabrück. Last summer, the HSV youngster was loaned out to the third-division club for the 2021/22 season and was supposed to further his own development at Bremer Brücke. So far, it can be said that the plan has worked out for all sides: The plan has worked out for all sides. The left-winger was in the starting eleven in ten of the eleven league games, contributed seven assists and thus played a decisive role in the strong interim result (second place) of the purple and white team. "Things are very tight in the 3rd league and therefore a lot is possible. I'm not a fan of talking about promotion now, because we're not even halfway through the season yet. We have to push ourselves to the limit every weekend, want to win our games and then we'll see where we end up," explains the 22-year-old with a view to the overall sporting situation. The fact that, in addition to his seven assists, he has yet to score a goal of his own is something that annoys the ambitious Opoku immensely. With a twinkle in his eye, however, he announces a correction in the near future: "That will definitely change in the near future.
Apart from his goals with VfL, the Hamburg-born Opoku is also interested in what is going on at his parent club and training centre - and is in contact with his buddy Ludovit Reis, who spent last season on loan at VfL: "When Ludo came to HSV in the summer, I showed him a lot about Hamburg and helped him integrate together with the other young players. In the course of my loan, I then asked him for his opinion and he told me a lot of positive things about the city of Osnabrück, the club and the stadium," notes the dribble-strong winger. So far, the Dutchman's tips have definitely paid off.
Things look similarly promising about 140 kilometres away by car in Deventer, the Netherlands. Ogechika Heil has been active there since 1 July this year. The attacking winger was loaned out to the Dutch first division club Go Ahead Eagles Deventer about seven weeks before Opoku and has pitched his tents in the centrally located small town. However, the summer preparations did not go optimally for "Ogi", who joined HSV from Hessen Kassel in the summer of 2016: "I tore a muscle fibre and was unable to play in the test matches, but was fit again in time for the start of the season. Nevertheless, only short appearances were possible at first." That meant three league games, and on 11 September the 20-year-old made his first appearance in the starting eleven. Seven more appearances followed, and a total of eleven Eredivisie games are recorded.
"On the whole, things are going very well. I can only report positive things, I have settled in well in the team and am gaining experience and playing time. That's the most important thing for now," Heil summarises and explains with regard to head coach Kees van Wonderen: "We mainly speak English, but the coach also knows some German. I have a good relationship with him." That's exactly what connects him with Jonas David, with whom Heil regularly exchanges ideas: "I'm in contact with him mainly via Facetime. He reports a lot of positive things and it makes me happy to see that more and more young talents from our own youth are getting a chance." However, Ogechika Heil currently has no chance of playing for the Eredivisie's tenth-placed team - the youngster injured his thigh again before the away game against Ajax Amsterdam (7 November, 0-0): "Unfortunately, I'm out for the time being with a torn muscle fibre and will be out for a few more weeks. But when I'm back, of course I have the ambition to get back on the pitch straight away and play as many games as possible." Fingers crossed for that ambition!
By the way: Xavier Amaechi has not yet made a competitive appearance since his loan to Bolton Wanderers. The 20-year-old Englishman suffered a metatarsal fracture in the preparation match against Preston North End and is now about to make his comeback. All the best for you, Xav!
Photo credits Opoku: Uwe Gerken/VfL Osnabrück