Ex-Bayern Elber gives tips on career success for African players

IN BERLIN

African players must learn to be disciplined if they are to succeed in playing professional football, says former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber.

Elber, who has since retired from the game, believes that the greatest problem that affects newly signed African players is indiscipline that causes then to take long to adjust to their new clubs.

He, however, said the contribution of African players in Europe has been tremendous. Elber confessed that Africa had some of the world’s best football players.

“Discipline is key in the German culture, and I think across all European countries. I see that when foreign players join a club they really struggle to learn the culture, how to keep time, how to maintain fitness, watching what to eat and so on.

“You find that it takes them a long time to adjust from their usual lives to the fast paced high pressure life here in Germany, and some get it after a very long time.

“Those who get it in good time end up being very good footballers, just like Samuel Kuffour whom I had the pleasure of playing alongside,” he said.

Renowned Ghanaian defender

Elber paid glowing tribute to Kuffour, the renowned Ghanaian defender, saying that his determination was second to none.

“Several times we were forced to ask him to calm down because he was very aggressive. Right from the moment he came he always wanted to win, wanted always to shine and was very upset any time things didn’t go well. That is the mentality that aspiring footballers should have if they are coming to play in Germany,” he said.

Elber was speaking at the Allianz Arena over the weekend when journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa paid the academy a visit.

The tour was organised by Startimes, who are the official Bundesliga broadcast partners for sub-Saharan Africa.

Elber, 46, says that the toughest team he played against was AC Milan, due to the high intensity attacking that they usually employed in their games.

Élber, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played as a striker.

He was a prolific goal scorer for Bayern Munich where he featured for six seasons. During that time, he scored 133 league gals in his 260 appearances at the club.

Elber runs a business in Frankfurt and ambassadorial work for Bayern Munich.