9 matches in 2 years: the incredible suffering of Nati-Juwel Bryan Okoh (20)

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Bryan Okoh (20) has been waiting for this for a long time. In the training camp in Marbella, the defender from Salzburg can play in the friendly match against Elversberg after halftime. These are his first minutes of action since last June. But the incredible story of the defender gem’s suffering begins much earlier.

Quite surprisingly, Murat Yakin (49) will offer Okho for the two European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Bulgaria in November 2021. At that time, he had not yet played a single professional match in a top competition.

Almost 500 days break after cruciate ligament rupture

But just before his possible debut in the national team, the Vaudois tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during training. It will take 489 days before Okoh celebrates his comeback at Salzburg’s partner club Liefering. After only nine appearances, the next injury shock follows. This time it’s the thigh, again it’s been off for months.

Okoh has played just 452 minutes in the two years since he was called up to the national team. “Not everything can always go perfectly,” the defender tells Blick. “I have learned and grown a lot during this time.” Giving up was never an option for him. “I always knew I could come back even stronger,” said the Vaudois.

The comeback of competitive gaming is upon us

In mid-December, Okoh was back on the Red Bull bench for the first time in the decisive Champions League group match against Benfica (1:3), but was still out of action. After the winter break, nothing should stand in the way of a competitive comeback. The only question remains whether he will spend the second half of the season with Salzburg or with Liefering in the second division.

For Okoh himself this only plays a minor role. “I’m just happy that I can finally play football again,” said the former Lausanne Sport junior. His goals for the coming months: “Stay fit and regain self-confidence.” If he succeeds, Okoh can hope that Murat Yakin will appear again in the future. The national coach has asked Okoh at least several times in the past two years.

Source : Blick