As of: February 23, 2024, 4:33 p.m
By: Nico-Marius Schmitz
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Happy after the debut: Gibson Adu with Manni Schwabl.
© Photo: Club
Gibson Nana Adu is the youngest player in 3rd division history.
He was sorted out by Mainz 05 in the NLZ.
The 16-year-old is convincing at Unterhaching, and dishwashing services at the inn also helped.
Unterhaching - Last Friday evening, Manni Schwabl received a message on his cell phone: 'Can you give me money for the hairdresser?
I want to look good for my first appearance in the third division.'
Sender: Gibson Nana Adu.
“I first asked him whether he was still completely closed,” says Schwabl, laughing.
The money was still there.
Adu's story is, above all, one about trust
In the game against Bielefeld, Adu made history as the youngest player in the 3rd league.
Coming on as a substitute in the fifth minute of added time was enough for the 16-year-old to get a penalty.
Mathias Fetsch missed, but no matter, Haching won 2-1 – and everyone celebrated the next Haching jewel: “That was a great feeling, just a little short.
I'm looking forward to the next time the coach sets me up." Adu's story is above all one about trust.
There was no future for the talent in the Mainz 05 youth academy.
Not disciplined enough, too impulsive, always having misfires.
Those around Gibson remembered the story of Karim Adeyemi, who matured under Schwabl's care to become a national player and brought Haching over ten million euros.
“I got a call and was asked if I wanted to go through something like that again,” says Schwabl: “At first I said: I already have enough gray hair, forget it.”
But the president of SpVgg Unterhaching wanted to get his own opinion, went to Mainz, spoke to the parents and the Mainz NLZ boss Volker Kersting.
Kersting's verdict on Gibson: Top in terms of sport, but no one can track him off the pitch.
That appealed to Schwabl.
The 57-year-old signed a parental agreement and Adu, at the age of 14, moved away from the family to a host family in Unterhaching.
Into the house where the Adeyemis once lived.
“I told him: The good Lord gives everyone a gift.
“It certainly wasn’t school for you, it was playing football,” smiles Schwabl.
Gibson Adu: Schwabl went to Mainz to get his own opinion
But the gift alone is not enough.
Nothing works without discipline.
In the beginning there was frequent dishwashing service in the inn as a punishment.
There was also a moment when Schwabl was about to send Adu back to Mainz.
But the Haching maker's daughter and mother intervened: You can't do that with such a young guy.
“Gibson has often been teased because of his skin color and has often acted out in the past.
That's humanly understandable, I don't just drop a player like that," says Schwabl.
The offensive player is popular in the club and was part of the first team's pre-season training camp at the age of 15.
The operation in Bielefeld should not have been a flash in the pan.
Those responsible expect Gibson to establish himself in the professional squad.
“Gibson's speed reminds me a lot of Karim Adeyemi,” says Haching coach Marc Unterberger, who once looked after the Dortmund player in his youth: “Gibson is able to score and prepare goals.
A player with great potential.” But Unterberger also warns that it is a hard, rocky road to professional football.
Haching offers Gibson the stage, but it has to be used.
Now Schwabl is sure to choose Gibson, which path he will take.
And the social environment is also crucial for this.
As Schwabl says, he can't look into all the TikToks and Instagram, all that stuff: "But I often check my cell phone at night to see if he's still online."
Schwabl recently even attended Adu's parents' evening - and immediately had to get a scolding from his own children.
According to the motto: You didn't even do that with us!
Adu appreciates the care of the Schwabls and the entire club.
“Haching is a family that took me in and built me up,” he says: “Of course I’m now trying to fully repay the trust placed in me.”
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