The captains of the three Red Bull soccer academies in Ghana, Salzburg and Brazil have their best years ahead of them.
Three young guys stand sheepishly on the airfield outside Hangar-7 at Salzburg airport, in Austria. Robin Gnange, a brawny defender from the Ivory Coast, quietly answers questions in French. Brazilian Anderson Gabriel Cajano is a Portuguese-speaker, but isn’t saying anything for now – perhaps not surprising after a 12-hour flight. The last of the three has home advantage: Aleksandar Simic, the captain of the Salzburg U17s, is seeing his opposite numbers from the other side of the world for the first time today. A ball rolls out onto the airfield and they’re suddenly switched on: Robin makes the ball dance on his head, Gabriel pins the ball in the nape of his neck and Aleks grins broadly as he juggles.
To read the full interview they gave Andreas Rottenschlager at the iconic Hangar-7 for The Red Bulletin, go to the download page for your own version of the August issue.
Meanwhile, enjoy reading the profiles of these outstanding young captains below.
Philipp Horak
Robin Gnange
Born: December 18, 1993
Place of birth: Youhoulil, Ivory Coast
Team: Red Bull Ghana
Position: Central defender
Idol: “Zinedine Zidane, because he’s stayed modest.”
Dream: “To play for FC Asante Kotoko in Ghana at first, then go to Spain, preferably to Barça.”
Philipp Horak
Aleksandar Simic
Born: January 24, 1993
Place of birth: Lienz, Austria
Team: Red Bull Salzburg
Position: Midfield
Idol: Michael Ballack. “A complete player: he can play in attack or defence.”
Dream: “Red Bull Salzburg, and Italy after that. I like the tactical football they play.”
Philipp Horak
Anderson Gabriel Cajano
Born: April 16, 1993
Place of birth: Valinhos, Brazil
Team: Red Bull Brasil
Position: Midfield
Idol: “Cristiano Ronaldo: he does tricks no one else can.”
Dream: “To play for FC Barcelona, and, more importantly, for the Brazilian national team.”
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