Bohemians' Fuad Sule 'Usually it's the more skilful players and goalscorers who get the accolades'

It's been a whirlwind few weeks for Bohemians midfielder Fuad Sule but one that the 20-year-old has taken in his stride as he makes a name for himself in the League of Ireland.

At the beginning of April, the midfielder had yet to make a senior appearance for the Gypsies and as a combination of university work and the team's strong performance limited his oportunities.

Prior to that, his only senior cap of any kind came as a second-half substitute in and end-of-season dead rubber for St Patrick's Athletic last October.

Those who had seen Nigerian-born Sule over four years in the under-19 National League, first for Shamrock Rovers and then three seasons with Pats, would have spotted the potential long before.

“The step up has been a real eye-opener, to see what level you have to be at playing in the league," Sule told extratime.ie. 

"I felt like I was ready. I had a few years at under-19 under my belt.

“I had a year at Rovers and I had three seasons at Pats, so I was kind of like a senior player in the under-19s last year, so I was definitely ready for the step.

“It's still all new to me but once I get a few more games under my belt I should be like any other player in the league. I should be well used to it.”

 

The 20-year-old quickly won over the crowd in Dalymount Park with his relentless thirst for work. (Photo: Martiin Doherty)

Sule was part of the Pats under-19 side that won the National League in 2015, and he captained the side to the final of the Enda McGuill Cup last September, a game they lost 2-0 to Cork.

On display that day were players like JJ Lunney, Steven Kinsella and Chiedozie Ogbene – all of whom have established themselves as first-time players (and all but Lunney have moved).

So when it came time to stick or swim, with the offer of another year on the table from Pats and overtures from other League of Ireland clubs, Sule, who grew up in Tallaght, chose to make the move across the Liffey.

“[Pats] tried to keep me but I felt like I was coming to the age where I really wanted to play 25-30 games in the League of Ireland at senior level. I felt like that would have been restricted.

“I probably would have got a bit of gametime but probably not as much as I think I deserve or think I need to get to the next level.

“When Keith came to me, [he said] it's up to you, if you want to play in my team, go ahead, you just have to show me you're ready.

“I do feel like going to Bohs was the right move. I did have a few other options from teams around the league but Bohs was the right move for me.

“I felt like Bohs, the type of team they are, they're not a team that's as financially strong as other teams in the league so they'll depend on their younger players to come to the action.

“It felt like Pats did have the big money to bring players in. Bohs, I felt like you're more of an asset than just another young player sitting around waiting for his opportunity. You're actually valued.

“I felt that Bohs needed young players and Keith explained to me the plan with Bohs for the future and I was really impressed, so that's why I decided to sign for Bohs over the other teams.”

Sule has been fortunate that he can lean on the experience of his brother Aji, a winger who spent time with Shelbourne and Cabinteely last season, as he looks to maximise his talent.

Aji made his breakthrough in the Bluebell United side that beat League of Ireland opposition in the EA Sports Cup and Leinster Senior Cup last year but had to drop out of league football for personal reasons.

He now plays for Newbridge Town in the Leinster Senior League and has been key to focusing his brother – who is five years his junior – on setting and attaining goals as he looks to improve.

“I'm naturally level-headed, but my brother has been advising me as well.

“It's when you're at the top that you're most vulnerable, so you have to keep your head and forget everything, just keep training and work hard and try your best to stay in the team.

“And when you are in the team, try your best to perform well and always set yourself standards.

“He's basically said to me, if I want to go places then I have to be eight out of ten in every single game I'm involved in. That's been the mentality and that's been the goal.

“He's actually a very good player but he just doesn't have the time to commit to a team in the League of Ireland so he just plays for Newbridge and for fun.

“He has a kid now as well so time is cut short. He played at a high level. He played for Shelbourne last year for a few games and then for personal reasons had to leave.

“He represented the Irish amateur team in the tournament that was here two years ago [the UEFA Regions Cup, which Ireland won].

“He's played at a high level so he has experiences and he always advises me and tells me what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong.”

 

Sule's brother Aji, a winger, spent time with Shelbourne and Cabinteely during 2016 before returning to non-league football for personal reasons. (Photo: Peter Fitzpatrick)

In terms of his all-action style, range of passing and low centre of gravity, Sule's performances to date have naturally invited comparisons with another one of football's surprise packages.

Chelsea's N'Golo Kanté arrived at Leicester City with little fanfare in 2015 and backboned a league-winning team before, earlier this month, winning the players' player of the year award.

And there are some parallels in the way that Sule, a player even many Bohemians fans would have been unaware of, has so quickly established himself as a key cog in Keith Long's system.

“I've been compared to N'Golo Kanté off Chelsea. I see where people are coming from because we both have that determination to win the ball back, and start attacks for teams.

“I got changed into a deeper role with my under-19s manager. I used to play in an offensive midfielder's role but he saw there was a player there who could win the ball back for the team and set the tempo and tone for the game, try to work hard and be aggressive.

“He dropped me back into the deeper role and because I have a good range of passing, short passing, I wouldn't be like every chance trying a 40-yard pinger. I try to keep it short.

“In teams, it's the more skillful players and the goalscorers that get the highlights, but everyone can see this year it hasn't been the case.

“He was PFA Player of the Year and it goes to show that you do get accolades for winning the ball back and working hard.”

Whether he can have the same lasting impact on the League of Ireland as Kanté has had on the English Premier League and French national teams remains to be seen.

However like most young players growing up in Ireland, the eventual goal for Sule is to make the breakthrough to overseas leagues, particularly in the UK.

“The immediate would be to stay in the team – that would be everyone's goal. I'm at the stage where I really have to be playing first team games.

“You can't really be in on around the squad or a rotation player if you want to go to the places where I want to go. You really have to try your best to stay in the team.

“My hopes would be to get 25-30 games under my my belt and go from there. I can plan on what next season's going to be like.

“The goal would be to stay in the team and help the team get into the position we feel we deserve to, and that's probably the top six or European positions.

“[Going abroad] would the main priority, so if that doesn't work out I could still always play League of Ireland football and try to get my degree.

“But if the teams overseas do come knocking, it would be my first priority. That's what I want to be – that's where I've always wanted to be ever since I was a kid.

“To be able to get to that level, you really have to be playing week in and week out for the likes of the Bohs and the Pats and the Corks and Dundalks.

“I know it's very tough on some young players because there are very many experienced players in the league that managers always favour because they do have that experience, but you have to try your best to stay in the team and play every game.

“To play in every game you have to be above seven out of ten every week – that way you leave the manager with no option but to leave you in the team."