Meet Kwaku Ohemeng – known throughout the North West as ‘Seedorf’ – the coach helping to shape Liverpool’s underage protegees and possible Premier League stars of the future.
When Jurgen Klopp departed Liverpool, he bestowed now no longer only a gifted first- group squad to Arne Slot, however additionally a rich teens system.
The German’s very last piece of silverware, the 2024 Carabao Cup, arguably owed itself much less to his prevailing character and extra to Liverpool’s specific soccer infrastructure. Of the 20- guy squad named that day at Wembley, a fantastic 8 have been produced with the aid of using Liverpool’s teens system, at the same time as 3 extra – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Stefan Bajcetic and Curtis Jones – have been injured.
That such a lot of academy merchandise performed starring roles became a supply of enormous satisfaction for the membership as a whole, and it’d were not possible however for the years of tireless paintings from a committed cohort of coaches
Kwaku Ohemeng is aware of extra approximately that than most. He’s now no longer a Liverpool teach , however probable has a higher hold close of the membership ’s underage skills than many that paintings at Kirkby
A famend soccer teach , regarded regionally as ‘Seedorf’, he has speedy received a popularity withinside the North West for supplying tailor-made periods to assist teams, small companies and man or woman gamers paintings on their skills. If you’re analyzing this with a experience of scepticism, a short look through Seedorf’s Instagram web page gives all of the evidence wanted of his expertise.
As does his listing of modern and previous clients, which incorporates Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe, Jeremie Frimpong, Adama Traore and Papiss Cisse, amongst others. “There are extra that I unluckily can’t say,” Seedorf informs Liverpool.com in the course of a current interview, with numerous modern Premier League gamers operating with the skilled teach
Another noteworthy patron is Patrick Dorgu, the Leece defender connected with Liverpool and difficulty of an method from Manchester United. Should he entire a January transfer, the 20-year- antique Dane can thank Seedorf for giving him a primary creation to the city, with the teach commonly strolling periods at Ardwick in Manchester
His upward push withinside the enterprise is fantastic , with a worldwide pandemic supplying the sudden catalyst to release a full-time business. “I began out with my son, who became with Liverpool’s academy, after which 4 extra boys came,” he explained.
“During Covid time, I became posting it on Instagram and those were given to understand that. I were given messages from the dad and mom ‘can I be a part of you?’. Parents might drop youngsters off and wait withinside the car, and of path we needed to keep social distancing at that stage.
“When I began out this, I did it for the boys. I didn’t understand that sooner or later I might teach pinnacle gamers withinside the pinnacle 5 leagues withinside the international and a few superstars.”
Born in Ghana, Seedorf’s soccer adventure took him first to Anderlecht, in which he performed for the membership ’s academy. He then moved to the United Kingdom in 2010 and performed semi- expert soccer earlier than his training profession took off
Via Seedorf Football Development Coaching, he works on a extensive variety of skills. “Technical, agility, velocity passing, shooting. When you do one consultation with me you may have carried out everything.”
Hard paintings and subject are on the coronary heart of his schooling strategies and it’s now no longer a wonder that he has been approached with the aid of using numerous golf equipment concerning the opportunity of turning into a full-time teach . But that doesn’t attraction to Seedorf, who enjoys the sort of operating with youngsters, experts and gamers throughout the soccer pyramid, in addition to a few grassroot teams. He even facilitates the Bermuda Under-17s.
But it’s at Kirkby in which his ties are strongest, as his social media money owed trace at. In addition to his Seedorf-branded yellow tracksuits, the teach can regularly be visible carrying legitimate Liverpool equipment in the course of his exercising videos.
He has fostered desirable members of the family with the membership – Alexander-Arnold became currently amongst the ones to ship his son a satisfied birthday message. As for Liverpool’s academy staff, they have got remarked on the extent of interest and element he offers the gamers . In fact, a few academy coaches may also factor dad and mom in Seedorf’s course and, so thorough are his periods , each penny spent on petrol for the two-hour spherical go back and forth up and down the M62 appears really well worth it.
In total, Seedorf works with almost 50 teens gamers on Liverpool’s books and few can declare to have a extra impact at the improvement of the membership ’s protegees. So acquainted has he turn out to be with Liverpool’s teens set-up, Seedorf is now often invited with the aid of using dad and mom to wait games. “I sense happy with them,” he admits.
“From what I understand and the gamers I train, I suppose Liverpool at Under-12, 13, 14 and 15, there’s a massive skills pool,” the teach adds. “If they maintain schooling tough as they’re with me and that they continue to be disciplined, they’re going to be pinnacle competencies . Trust me, Liverpool has were given a few exquisite competencies there.