Training camp

Kofi Amoako: “The team is full of energy”

The 21-year-old new signing discusses his first few days at Hamburger SV, the togetherness in the squad and his progress learning Danish.

HSV’s training camp in Helsingør has come at a fitting time for Kofi Amoako for more than just footballing reasons. The Rothosen’s new midfielder has been taking the chance to work on his Danish. “I understand a few words when Albert Grønbæk and Yussuf Poulsen speak to each other,” said Amoako, who is not learning the language to communicate with his new teammates, but to win a few brownie points with his partner and her parents, who are from Denmark.

Listening to Amoako speak, though, it is clear communication with the squad would never have been a problem anyway. The new signing, who joined the Rothosen from SG Dynamo Dresden, is full of praise for his new teammates. “Everyone has been really nice to me, from the young players to the leaders in the group. The team is full of energy, everyone is smiling. Everyone gets on with everyone, everyone talks to each other. The team is a real group,” he said. After just two days with the squad, his verdict is that he is exactly where he needs to be.

At the first training session of the camp, Amoako was given the traditional welcome for a new signing. For a change, the midfield enforcer was the one taking the hits. Amoako had to run the gauntlet and was given a slap on the back by each of his teammates. Normally, the Hanover-born midfielder is the one setting the tone in challenges. “I used to love scoring goals, but at a certain point I realised that wasn’t my job. I prefer winning the ball back,” he explained. With a smile, Amoako added that he enjoys doing the “dirty work” for both the defence and the attack.

Last season, the right-footer played for SG Dynamo Dresden in the 2. Bundesliga, having spent the previous campaign with VfL Osnabrück in the 3. Liga. Now he is back in Germany’s top flight, where he made two appearances as a young professional for VfL Wolfsburg. Amoako is taking things step by step. “My first aim is to settle in at HSV. I want to see what the level is like and where I stand,” said the Germany U20 international, who has won six caps at that level. Above all, he wants to keep developing.

Alongside Amoako, HSV also have midfielders such as Nicolai Remberg and Albert Sambi Lokonga, both of whom he speaks about in glowing terms. “It excites me that someone like Nicolai Remberg plays in my position. He’s a similar type of player to me. I want to learn a lot from him. If we were to play together, it certainly wouldn’t be much fun for the opposition. Then there’s Albert Sambi Lokonga too, and there isn’t much that needs to be said about him. He’s outstanding,” said Amoako, who is determined not to put himself under any pressure despite the competition in central midfield.

Watch the youngster in training and it is clear how quickly he has made his presence felt. When his team are in possession, he moves into space and loudly demands the ball. Out of possession, he does not shy away from a single challenge and looks completely in his element. Reflecting on his early impressions of training, he said: “We’re all really up for it and preparing for our first competitive game in Verl. We have six weeks to get ready for that.” The way Amoako already talks about “we” only adds to the impression that he has settled in quickly. “It’s only been two days, but I feel very much at home already.”