The perfect birthday present – an A-League title – looms for Sydney FC teenage sensation Akol Akon.
The electrifying winger turns 17 on Thursday, just two days before his team’s grand final date with Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium.
Akon is set to become the youngest player to have ever taken part in an A-League decider since the competition’s inception in 2005.
“It hasn’t really fully sunk in yet,” the youngster said on Monday after Sydney’s weekend semi-final success against Newcastle.
“It will start to hit me once I’m out on the pitch, but hopefully it sinks in soon … and then I can focus on the game.
“I just have to put my head down and focus on what I have to do, and get the job done.”
Akon seems to have made a wise decision in making the crosstown move from the Western Sydney Wanderers to the Sky Blues in June last year on a three-season deal.
The Wanderers have subsequently finished with the wooden spoon, while Sydney will this weekend aim to secure a sixth A-League championship.
“I took it as an opportunity, and as a young footballer, you need to take that opportunity well,” Akon said.
“I didn’t think about it too much. I spoke to my family about what I needed to do, and they all backed me with it.”
Akon has made 14 appearances for Sydney this season, and has been getting plenty of game time since the March arrival of coach Patrick Kisnorbo, who replaced Ufuk Talay.
“Since he (Kisnorbo) has come here, he’s really taught us a lot, and we’re really thankful for that,” said Akon, who has started in Sydney’s past three games.
“He has a lot of belief in us (youngsters), but he also just tells us to play our football, work on our tactics … we worked hard to get there.”
”
