Young and Younger: Introducing Genc & Besara

By: Luka | October 8th, 2009

Mattias Genc

Born: May 6, 1989
Position: Striker
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 74 kg
First club: Assyriska FF
Season 2009: 2 matches, 1 goal

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Like Nahir Besara, Genc is a local Assyriska youth product. He is a pure striker with a good eye for goal. Last season he managed two goals in his last year as a no-good still-learning-about-the-world teenager. As such, in 2008 most believed that he was ready to seriously compete for a place in the first team come this season, especially after garnering praise from captain and fellow striker Goran Marklund. Unfortunately, given the position Assyriska has been in for the past few years (banging on the door of promotion, yet bearing in mind the disaster that was 2006) Genc has seen his opportunities limited, with former coach Roberth Johansson favouring more experienced and (arguably) industrious players (with Besara being the exception, due to him being quite exceptional). Injuries never really help either.

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Mattias Genc being examined by resident Assyriska ear doctor, ~~Johan Teymur~~ Narsai Shaba.

Genc scored in Assyriska’s very recent 4-0 drubbing of Vasby United after coming on as a substitute, and marked this goal with a charismatic and almost iconic salute to all supporters present in the Sodertalje Arena (first picture). This was his first goal for the senior team in 2009 (in his 8th appearance, all as a substitute) in a season where he has fluctuated between the Superettan bench and starting for Assyriska’s youth team, which competes in the 3rd division. Many believe Genc is ready to become a first team regular. Here’s hoping.

Nahir Besara

Born: February 25, 1991
Position: Midfielder
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 71 kg
First club: Assyriska FF
Season 2009: 26 matches, 3 goals

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While Mattias Genc is a mercurial youngster with plenty of potential, Nahir Besara is the real deal. Nahir is an important and regular member of the first team, despite the small matter of him only being born 18 years ago. His awesome abilities are clear for all to see – dazzling technique, pace and stamina – and a maturity on and off the ball in the heart of the midfield that belies his age. He just needs to work on his physical aspect, which many believe is his only real weakness (I totally didn’t just read that from Football Manager>coach reports). I guess you could also say he has a tendency to shoot from highly ambitious distances with little success. Nahir is the first (to my knowledge) Assyriska youth product to carry the “next Kennedy Bakircioglu” epithet, indicating the huge weight his talent encumbers on his young shoulders.

Nahir broke into the Assyriska first team in the latter parts of the 2008 campaign, but has really taken off as a footballer this season. To date he has scored 3 goals and racked up a bunch of assists, and was the man of the match in his most recent appearance against Vasby United. As I said before, former coach Roberth Johansson tended to favour more experienced (i.e. old) and aggressive (i.e. not very good, but hard as nails) players, especially in the heart of the midfield (Ostlundh and Toompuu in question). As such, Nahir found himself pushed onto the left side of midfield for extended periods of the season. Still, despite being a naturally right-footed central attacking midfielder, he has really impressed and tangibly improved the team’s performances on the field. He is particularly adept at beating his man in one-on-one situations and subsequently finding teammates with real composure.

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About the only thing Nahir can be criticised with is his physicality and aggression (the latter evidenced by him not receiving a single booking this season in 26 games). Thankfully, these are possibly the most complimentary and cliche’d criticisms talented young footballers receive. It’s better to be labelled weak and slightly timid than just plain crap. He also wears white boots, automatically making him a good player.

Nahir is also a current member of the Swedish u/19 national team (pictured to prove I’m not lying), and scored against Bulgaria in June in what may or may not have been a competitive match. After signing a contract with Assyriska until 2013, Assyriska chairman Nail Yoken declared him “the future of Assyriska”, and concurrently Besara expressed his “love” for the club (although he is on record as stating that he’d like to play for Milan one day [note: this was in 2008, it's highly unlikely he still maintains this sentiment]).

Khayeetun Othoroye Nahir o Mattias.