“Caleb’s talent was exceptional at just eight” — Caleb Yirenkyi's youth coach Bashiru Mohammed

Bashiru Mohammed, a former youth coach of Ghanaian footballer Caleb Yirenkyi, shared insights into how he first identified the young talent in 2015 when Caleb was just eight years old. Speaking on Akoma 87.9 FM, Mohammed noted Caleb's exceptional abilities even at such a young age and decided to play him in the number 10 role due to his aggressiveness and talent for influencing games.

"I spotted Caleb in 2015 when he was just eight years old, and even at that age, his talent was exceptional. I played him in the number 10 role because of his aggressiveness and his ability to influence the game," he explained.

Mohammed was surprised to observe how Caleb's demeanor has changed on the pitch, becoming much more composed and calm compared to his earlier aggressive style. "I am even surprised by how calm and composed he is on the pitch now because he was not like that when he was younger," he added. The coach also highlighted Caleb's leadership qualities, which were evident from a very young age.

He would often gather the younger players after training sessions to provide guidance and help them rectify their mistakes. "Even at his age, after every training session, you would see Caleb gathering all the boys and correcting them on their individual mistakes. He was already showing great leadership qualities," Mohammed revealed.

Interestingly, Caleb's path to the Right to Dream Academy was not straightforward. He was initially overlooked during the first trials but was later included in the academy's examination process. Mohammed mentioned that Caleb passed the exams, securing his place in the subsequent trial rounds. "During the first trials when Right to Dream came, Caleb was not selected.

However, I managed to include him in the squad for their exams, and fortunately, he passed. During the second trial, he was selected, and from there, the rest, as they say, is history," he explained.

Caleb Yirenkyi's journey from an eight-year-old football prodigy to an international player has led him to the English Premier League, showcasing the remarkable impact his early coach had on his development.