Last hoorah: Garang Kuol played his last game for Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night. Photo: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng
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AAP Image/Jeremy Ng
Shepparton soccer sensation Garang Kuol said farewell to the A-League on Saturday night, playing his last game in Central Coast Mariners colours.
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The former Goulburn Valley Sun is now set to complete his move to English Premier League giant Newcastle United, with a loan move expected after his arrival.
Speaking to Channel 10 after his side downed Melbourne Victory 2-1, Kuol said he could not wait to start plying his trade overseas.
“I’m really excited, excited to learn more stuff, be around different people and different cultures,” Kuol said.
Happy his side could end 2022 with a win, Kuol said he was not fazed by being away from his family once he was overseas.
"I think that you can't take away that stress,“ he said.
“I think I'll just focus more on trying to make them proud, so I'll just do my job.”
Entering 2023 after a whirlwind season that included a Socceroos debut, World Cup berth and a first league start for the Mariners, Kuol is perfectly poised to take Europe by storm.
The 18-year-old’s now former mentor, Mariners coach Nick Montgormery, said it was good to send Kuol off with a win.
“The boys are gonna miss him, we’re going to miss him, the A-League’s going to miss him,” Montgomery said.
“Newcastle are a fantastic club with good people there, they’ve got a top world-class manager and the destination is for him to get in the first team at Newcastle, so what happens between now and then is going to be between them and Garang.”
Farewell: Garang Kuol walks off the field for the final time ahead of joining Newcastle United. Photo: AAP Image/Jeremy Ng
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AAP Image/Jeremy Ng
Under no illusions with the challenges Kuol is set to face, Montgomery said it was now about hard work and staying humble for the youngster.
“Garang has to go there and work his socks off,” he said.
“He was unlucky tonight that he didn’t get a goal tonight and didn’t get the penalty, I think that would’ve been a good way to sign off, but he’s got a big future ahead of him.
“It’s always a bumpy road, there’s going to be ups and downs, but we’ll be there to support Garang and he’s always going to be a part of the Mariners family like so many that have gone on to big things.”
