Promoted hero Funkel on El Mala's World Cup chances: Patience is required!

Promoted hero Funkel on El Mala's World Cup chances: Patience is required!

Today, the Höhenberg sports park will be the setting for an interesting panel discussion about the connection between sport and business, organized by Viktoria Köln, the PSD Bank and the Gercke Wollschläger law firm. Moderated by Thomas Wagner, top-class guests such as Friedhelm Funkel, who is known as FC Köln's promotion coach, as well as Inka Grings, Andreas Rettig, Stefan Ruthenbeck and Marian Wilhelm will discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting young talent in football.

A central topic of discussion is the promising players Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln and Lennart Karl from FC Bayern. Funkel emphasizes that participation in the World Cup in 2026 is too early for the two talents as they should first gain valuable experience. He praises the trainers who look after the young people and ensures that they don't take off. In support of this, the role of the trainers as mentors is emphasized, who are not only responsible for the technical and tactical development, but also for the mental strength of their protégés.

The importance of talent screening

The early recognition of talent is crucial when it comes to successfully promoting young players. Talent identification can begin in childhood, with the focus being on technical skills, understanding of the game, physical requirements and mental strength. This also includes the ability to quickly grasp game situations and improve one's own concentration, as cotrainer.com illustrates.

Funkel compares El Mala's situation with Lukas Podolski, who had already played 19 Bundesliga games before being called up for the national team. Coaches have a key role to play here by supporting talent according to their individual development, which consists not only of technical training but also of promoting a positive attitude.

Challenges for young players

Marian Wilhelm talks about El Mala's impressive development from youth club Viktoria Köln to 1. FC Köln and highlights the need for a supportive environment. It is also discussed that the development of young players requires strategic planning that takes into account the balance between school education, training and leisure time.

Teen athletes must not only hone their technical skills, but also learn to handle pressure. To achieve this, psychological support and individual goals in the training process are essential. A supportive environment with positive reinforcement contributes significantly to the development of self-confidence and mental strength, says the trainer blog about the importance of mental training in football.

In summary, the discussion surrounding El Mala and his colleagues shows how important it is to accompany and support young players on their path to becoming professionals. The exchange between sport and business can provide new impulses and help to further promote football as a unifying element for young people.