Alex Jalloh - our latest Sydney Swans Academy member

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  • Bas
    Veterans List
    • Jan 2003
    • 4457

    Alex Jalloh - our latest Sydney Swans Academy member

    Missed this story in the paper this morning, but if you have the Sunday Telegraph there is an article on page 93 (Central Coast edition but same page as sports crossword) on 14 yr old Alex.

    A remarkable story. For those of you that can't find the article, a brief summary follows:

    Alex (14 yrs) and his twin brother Andrew came to Australia 6 years ago from Sierra Leone as orphans after their father was killed in the civil war. They couldn't speak english.

    It was brother Andrew's dream to play AFL and for the Swans. Alex on the other hand, scored six tries in the U12's grand final in 2007. He made further headlines when he accused the opposing trainer of calling him a "black nigger" and slapping him across the face. Alex also played soccer and was very good at that too.

    Sadly in 2008, Andrew passed away from stomach cancer.

    It was Andrew's dream to play for the Swans and Alex said that his brother was a legend to him and he would continue his dream to play for the Swans.

    Any dry eyes at this stage?

    He can run 100m in 11.02 seconds and has had NRL, Rugby and Soccer scouts after him.

    Swans Academy Manager Chris Smith has no doubt that Alex will be drafted by the Swans in 2013. He is very gifted in many ways. Smith says "he has that trait, that focus, that drive and the ability to work hard". He has great endurance and is super quick.

    Alex says that he is really happy with the signing because the Swans have done so much for his family. He says he never wants to leave the Swans and will be there for life.

    With the new zoning. Sydney have priority to sign him. Article doesn't say how tall he is but looks tall in the photo in his Swans jacket.

    I'm sure we will hear alot more about him before then.
    In memory of my little Staffy - Dicey, 17.06.2005 to 1.12.2011- I'll miss you mate.
  • dimelb
    pr. dim-melb; m not f
    • Jun 2003
    • 6889

    #2
    A moving story. And if he's 14 and can do the 100 in 11 seconds, and wants to play for us, fantastic!
    He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

    Comment

    • Reggi
      On the Rookie List
      • Jan 2003
      • 2718

      #3
      See Link



      It's worth googling the name clearly he is talented. That is really a really sad story
      You don't ban those who supported your opponent, you make them wallow in their loserdom by covering your victory! You sit them in the front row. You give them a hat! Toby Ziegler

      Comment

      • Bas
        Veterans List
        • Jan 2003
        • 4457

        #4
        I didn't think of googling but I was staggered at the amount of references he has had for his athletic ability. It doesn't come as any surprise that all codes were after him.

        A big congratulations to the Swans for welcoming him and showing him a new life. I'm very proud of the Club.

        Here's just a few things I've found.

        Rising star claims he was racially taunted - National - smh.com.au

        DET NSW Sports Unit - NSWPSSA

        AAGPS ATHLETICS 2008 Have a look at the figures in this last link. He can high jump 1.65m
        In memory of my little Staffy - Dicey, 17.06.2005 to 1.12.2011- I'll miss you mate.

        Comment

        • CJK
          Human
          • Apr 2006
          • 2170

          #5
          Thank the gods we don't have Andrew Johns as an assistant coach.


          Good luck to the young man, seems he damn sure deserves some.
          -

          Comment

          • unconfuseme
            Regular in the Side
            • Jan 2009
            • 681

            #6
            DOB 5/10/95, 175cm and 69 kg according to the April 2010 State Zone Trials "Record" ... he was about the same size when he was terrorising junior rugby league teams and breaking records at Primary School athletics carnivals as a 10 and 11 year old ...

            Comment

            • Bas
              Veterans List
              • Jan 2003
              • 4457

              #7
              Media pick up the story

              African connection: Sydney hope teenage signing will pay dividends
              In memory of my little Staffy - Dicey, 17.06.2005 to 1.12.2011- I'll miss you mate.

              Comment

              • BSA5
                Senior Player
                • Feb 2008
                • 2522

                #8
                Originally posted by Bas
                Quite a poorly written article, that one. Nice to see some sort of confirmation though, I'd Googled his name and the Swans and nothing was coming up!
                Officially on the Reid and Sumner bandwagon!

                Comment

                • Primmy
                  Proud Tragic Swan
                  • Apr 2008
                  • 5970

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Bas
                  Its not that bad BSA5. It tells the story. Good old Iggies. Nothing like a sports scholarship to tickle things along and help nurture AFL (must be following in the light of Leo Barry) in a rugby heartland school.

                  Being a major catholic school it its rather important to note that Alex's brother Andrew was buried at the Auburn mosque. Learn something Johns.......
                  If you've never jumped from one couch to the other to save yourself from lava then you didn't have a childhood

                  Comment

                  • Reggi
                    On the Rookie List
                    • Jan 2003
                    • 2718

                    #10
                    Gifted athlete joins Swans Academy



                    I am guessing realistically Sydney will need to sign 20 such players to have a big impact. It's a great initiative, good story
                    You don't ban those who supported your opponent, you make them wallow in their loserdom by covering your victory! You sit them in the front row. You give them a hat! Toby Ziegler

                    Comment

                    • DST
                      The voice of reason!
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 2705

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Reggi
                      Gifted athlete joins Swans Academy



                      I am guessing realistically Sydney will need to sign 20 such players to have a big impact. It's a great initiative, good story
                      We have been calling for it for years and I just don't understand how the AFL didn't understand why something like this was the only way to encourage elite juniors to stick with AFL as a career path.

                      There was abosultely no way the AFL were going to be able to encourage and retain elite juniors when you have soccer, rugby leage and to a lesser cricket all able to offer junior pathways programs that allow kids to play AFL and remain in their state to play at senior level at the start.

                      AFL was really looking to be wiped out as a junior elite sport in NSW, especially with A league clubs offering youth squads and soon academy places.

                      DST
                      "Looking forward to a rebuilt, new, fast and exciting Swans model in 2010"

                      Comment

                      • Kirkari
                        On the Rookie List
                        • Aug 2009
                        • 1036

                        #12
                        Great story. I hope he's a star!
                        Superman still wears Brett Kirk Pyjamas

                        Comment

                        • ScottH
                          It's Goodes to cheer!!
                          • Sep 2003
                          • 23665

                          #13
                          Sierra Leone to Swans

                          Gifted footballer Alex Jalloh (pictured) signed with the Sydney Swans at age 15 and recently returned from a standout performance with the World XVIII team in the 2011 NAB AFL Under-16 championships.
                          After being signed by the Swans at 14, Alex?s first taste of high-grade competition was with the World XVIII, where he dominated in both the midfield and the back pocket.


                          Wow, interesting

                          Comment

                          • desredandwhite
                            Click!
                            • Jan 2003
                            • 2498

                            #14
                            Yeah I remember reading about this kid a while back. Sounds like a great story - I hope he makes it!

                            177th Senior AFL Match - Round 4, 2009 - Sydney vs Carlton, SCG. This is obviously out of date. I suppose I'll update it once I could be bothered sitting down with the fixture and working it out....
                            Des' Weblog

                            Comment

                            • wolftone57
                              Veterans List
                              • Aug 2008
                              • 5857

                              #15
                              Not a bad coaching panel. If these guys rate him we then have a good up & coming kid. Good on him!

                              Comment

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