Toure earns scholarship contract after shining on FFA Cup debut

Al Hassan Toure has signed a scholarship contract with Adelaide United nearly two weeks after his professional debut in the FFA Cup 2019.

The 19-year-old striker needed just 12 minutes to mark his maiden senior appearance in football with a goal against Melbourne Knights which opened the floodgates in their 5-2 win in the Round of 32.

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The first-team promotion also follows a string of fine performances for the club's youth team in the National Premier Leagues SA, in which he found the net in four straight matches.

It is a run which has caught the attention of Gertjan Verbeek, with the head coach rewarding the talented young striker on Tuesday.

“I’ve been working hard throughout the years to get this kind of opportunity and to have signed with my hometown club and be close to my family and friends is very important," he told the club's website. 

“Hopefully I can get as many minutes in the senior team as possible and also get my name on the scoresheet more and more.” 

“Al Hassan is a very talented young footballer and he’s impressed Gertjan, all our other senior coaches, and I throughout this pre-season,” added Director of Football Bruce Djite.

“Al Hassan is yet another example of the talent we have coming through our youth team, and his strong form in the NPL ultimately enabled him the opportunity to train with the first team, which he has taken with both hands.

“Not only does Al Hassan possess a raw natural ability, but he is an exciting and explosive footballer with a strong desire to improve.

“Adelaide United is the perfect environment for Al Hassan to continue his evolution as a player and we’re very confident that he will continue to improve and develop under the guidance of Gertjan [Verbeek] and his coaching staff."

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