Being tested

Berlin – Jordan Torunarigha is no stranger to pressure. The 19-year-old is now under twice as much pressure, and part of that comes from outside the world of sport. The Berlin defender is currently in the final stages of his A levels, and has to sit his penultimate exam on the theory of sport only one day before taking on Darmstadt 98 on Saturday (13/05/17). On Monday, he’ll sit his final exam. “It’s a bit stressful, but when play football I don’t think about school,” he said. Playing football is something the Berlin player has to do between exams, as he fights with his teammates in the closing stages of the season for the right for Hertha to play European football next season. The youngster will also have to pass a test on Saturday, when he leads the Hertha defense against Darmstadt 98’s front-line. 

The absence of the suspended Sebastian Langkamp and John Anthony Brooks means that Hertha will have to rely on their home-grown young talent to organise a makeshift back-line in what is only his sixth Bundesliga game. “It was my goal to make my league debut prior to the season. Things are going quicker than I had anticipated, or even than I had hoped they would,” remarked the defender. The questions surrounding the availability of Niklas Stark and the confirmed absence of Fabian Lustenberger means that manager Pál Dárdai has to put his faith in Torunarigha at this time of crisis. “Of course I’m very happy that I’m allowed to play. I’ll happily take on the challenge, but the success of the team comes first,” said the left-footed 19-year-old. 

Torunarigha has a competitive edge 

The reserved nature that Torunarigha shows in interviews is not apparent on the pitch. “Jordan makes a good impression. He has a competitive edge and can perform under pressure,” said Coach Dárdai.  The Hertha youngster is a tough tackler on the pitch and he doesn’t want to put any extra pressure on his side going into the penultimate match of the season against already relegated Darmstadt. “I don’t get as nervous as I was before my first match, for example,” said the Hertha man. Michael Preetz wants the older members of the squad to take on extra responsibility, saying, “The onus is on the experienced players to help and support the youngsters.” 

Torunarigha must also take the lead in his role at the heart of Hertha’s defence. Something of a personnel crisis in recent weeks has meant Touranarigha may be partnered by another youngster in Darmstadt. Florian Baak could make his second Bundesliga appearance, this time from the start, after coming on against Bremen. This would make the centre of defence doubly as young and experienced. “We’re still young players and have a lot to learn. But we’re not alone out there on the pitch. We have nine teammates helping us out,” said Torunarigha. The youngster also receives support every day on the training pitch. John Anthony Brooks and Sebastian Langkamp, for example, often pull the young defender to one side to give him advice. „That helps me,” said the 19-year-old.  

These two more experienced defenders won’t be available for Hertha in Darmstadt, but Torunarigha is approaching the game against the team that sits bottom of the Bundesliga table with a clear mind: “I’m hopeful that we can finally bring some points back to Berlin with us.” If he does well in his exam, perhaps the young defender will have two reasons to celebrate.