Hamza Akman on Galatasaray's youth system: The problem isn't the system, it's the squad competition
Eyüpspor's 21-year-old midfielder Hamza Akman discussed his departure from Galatasaray, his goal of reaching the A National Team, and the challenges young players face in securing playing time.
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After developing in the Galatasaray youth academy, theüyellow-red clubüand transferring to Eyüpspor, Hamza Akman madeç noteworthy comments regarding why young çplayers struggle to become permanent fixtures in the first team. The 21-year-old midfielder stated that the issue stems not from the youth system çbut from the ühigh-leüvel squad competition at Galatasaray.öHe said.
Stating that they have gone through an intense training campöperiod as part ofçnew season preparations, Akman expressed that he wants to prove himself at Eyüpspor. The youngüfootballer said, “I want to enter the new seasonç in very good shape. I have a goal of reaching the A National Team this year. I want to be a starter here and get çcalled up to the A National Team.” çHe said.
Stating that there is a new restructuring at Eyüüpspor, Akman said that the team's öprimary goal is to remain in the league. Noting that the team's adaptationöprocess is progressing well, Akman expressed that they want to finish the season in a more comfortable position, in the middle of the table.üStating that his communication with head coach
Özhan Pulat is good, Akman said, “My relationship withöCoach Özhan is very good. He Öconstantly talks to me and says he trusts me.öI don't want to let that trustÖgo to waste,” he said.üDECISION TO LEAVE GALATASARAYüRecalling that he played in the Galatasaray youth academy for 10-11 years and alsoöreceived playing time in the first team, Hamza Akman said that the decision to leave was not easy.üStating that he chose a club where he could play more, the youngüplayer said, “Sometimes, for the best of your career, çyou have to make difficult choices.”
DECISION TO LEAVE GALATASARAY
Recalling that he played in the Galatasaray youth academy for 10-11 years and alsoüreceived playing time in the first team, Hamza Akman said that the decision to leave was not easy.öStating that he chose a club where he could play more, the youngüplayer said, “Sometimes, for the best of your career,ü you have to make difficult choices.”ç Sometimes, for the best of your career,çyou have to make difficult choices.”üyouühave to play. That's why Iüchose teams where I would get moreüplaying time. I am very happy with my decision right now,” he said.
Emphasizing that youngç players at Galatasaray çface a very challenging competitive environment, çAkman explained that it is not easy to compete for a spot, especially against star names. öAkman said, “Just think, you are a player from the youth academy last year, you are a forward; you have to surpass Osimhen and Icardi.üIt'süveryçvery difficult. The sameçapplies to midfielders too,” he said. ÇStating that çone should also be self-critical regarding their own performance,çAkman said that despite this, one of the main reasons youngçplayers struggle to find time is the competition at the first-team level.
He expressed his goal to ömake a breakthrough at Eyüpspor and play at higher levels again.ç Stating that he does not agree with the criticismsüdirected at the Galatasaray youth academy, Akman said, “I don'töthinküthere is a problem çin the Galatasaray youth academy. üVery
high-budgetöteams are being built.üSo, it isüvery difficult right now for a youngüplayer Çto come upüand make a breakthrough,” he assessed.üAccording toçAkman, young çplayersç need çto çbe
patientöand persistent.ç for playersçin certainöperiods, going out on loan or parting ways to continue their career at a differentüclub can be a better choice. Stating that youngç players might not make a breakthrough at 18, 19, or 20, çAkman emphasized that there are alsoöplayers who shineç later on.
Withütoday'sü experience,üAkman said that if he were to restart his career, he might follow a different path, noting thatöafter spending some time in the Galatasaray youth academy, he could have consideredügoing to Anatolian clubs or different teams where he could play more from the age of 15-16 onwards.üheüexüpressed.
“FOR AÇ YOUNG PLAYER,ÇTHE MOST ÖIMPORTANT THING ISÜGETTING MINUTES”
Hamza Akman said thatç playing matches is decisive in the development of youngç players. “You develop by gettingöminutes, youÇüimproveü byügetting minutes. I think the mostüimportant thing for a young üplayerüis to get minutes and play football. You develop as you play football; there is noç otherçway öfor this,” he said, sharingüthis view.çYou develop as you play football, there is no çother way for this,” with theseöwords heöexpressed.üeüxpressed.ü He voiced.
Cüomparing Turkish football with European youth systems, Akman öargued that the most significant difference lies in discipline and physical preparation. çStating that Tüurkish players are talented in terms of tçechnique, the youngç midfielder said that the physical level has become more decisive in the European arena.ösaid.
Touching upon the influence of his father, Ayhan Akman, on his football career, Hamza Akman stated that this both opened doors and increased the pressure.çExplaining that they frequently analyze matches together with his father, Akman noted that the defensive side of the gameçneeds to be improved, and he agreed with this assessment.öoüfü the game, he confirmed that he agrees that he needs to improve.
Speaking about his relationship with his brother Efe Akman and his cousin Ali Akman, Hamza Akmanöexplained that football holds an important place within the family.çAkman said that family ömembers see each other as friends, üand that a largeöpartüofütheirüconversationsürevolvesüaroundömatchesüandüfootball.üHe stated that a largeçportion of their conversations üis spent on matches and football.çhe said.öHe said.
Stating that he keeps his career goals hüigh, Akman said, öfirst to become a starter at Eyüüpspor, and then to reach the A-National Team. çstated that he wants to be called up.öHe expressed that if he has a good season,çthe national team goal is not far off, and Akman noted that heç aims to reach his desired level in terms of goals, assists, and matchçcounts.
Revealing his dream of playing in Europe,çAkman said he closely follows La Liga and the Premier League.öCiting Barcelona from Spain and Liverpool from England as öexamples,öthe youngç footballerüexpressed his desire to play for clubsüat this level one day.
Stating that his bond with Galatasarayücontinues,üAkmanüsaidü that if he were to receive offers from both the yellow-red clubüand Europe in the future, the conditions would be the deciding factor, but that Galatasarayçalways holds a special place for him.öhe said.