Prepare for race hate hell
FRIMPONG ON LAZIO CLASH
JEREMIE FRIMPONG has warned his Celtic team-mates they could face race hate hell in Rome next month after revealing he was targeted in Italy when he was only 10.
Celtic Park is on red alert for the Europa League visit of Lazio tomorrow night with
JEREMIE FRIMPONG could probably squeeze both his feet into one of Virgil van Dijk’s size 13s but the Celtic youngster is still determined to follow in the Liverpool star’s footsteps.
The 18-year-old isn’t thinking about treading a path back to the English Premier League just yet though.
He wants to take big Virgil’s lead and go all the way to the Holland national team.
Frimpong might have a Manc accent but he was born in Amsterdam to Ghanaian and Dutch parents and has his heart set on playing for the Oranje one day.
The full-back is going about it the right way having made an explosive start to life at Celtic with standout performances in his first two games and an aggregate score of 11-0 against Partick Thistle and Ross County.
The first aim is to make it impossible for Hoops boss Neil Lennon to leave him out.
But the long-term goal for the former Manchester City kid is to emulate former Celts ace van Dijk and become part of the new generation of Dutch stars who are slowly dragging their nation back to the top.
Frimpong said: “I fully believe I can play in that company.
“It would be exciting to be a part of that. They play a lot of young players as well who are really good. The Dutch are building.
“Back in the day they were great and they are keeping it up. I’d love to be a part of it.
“I’d like to follow Virgil. There’s a pathway. You get chances here.”
Frimpong revealed it’s not just his technique he’s working on to achieve his dream. The defender moved to Manchester as a seven-year-old so he has some homework to do when it comes to his homeland.
He said: “I’m still working on my Dutch! I know how to speak it a little. If I do play for the national team I will try to learn it.
“The language isn’t the easiest to learn. The way they speak is fast so you just have to listen to what they are saying and look at their lips carefully. My sister speaks it fluently. She has been teaching me little bits but it’s hard.
“It was English that was spoken in the house when I was growing up. That and the Ghanaian language called Twi. “My mum would normally speak that to me but my brothers and sisters all speak English. The only Dutch they would use would be hello and goodbye.
“There is interest in me from Ghana but right now I want to play for Holland although I won’t write off Ghana. I could play for England as well. If that came about it would be between those three but I don’t have Scottish connections!”
It’s a shame there’s no tartan angle given our dearth of right-backs but Scotland’s woes are not Celtic’s concern when they seem to have a gem on their hands.
Frimpong has bided his time since his summer switch from City’s academy but any time he has popped up he has stolen the show.
The kid clutched the match of the match champagne after his debut against the Jags then wowed punters once more in the weekend rout of County. He’s the first to admit he has set a pretty high bar.
Frimpong said: “What a way to start. It’s such a great team to play with.
“I’m really grateful for that. I’m not fazed by being here. If you want to be a footballer, you have to take opportunities like this.
“You have to come here with confidence. Obviously be humble but play how you play.
“The reception I got was really nice. The fans are amazing.
“To see my name on the board at the end of the game was everything I could ask for. It’s really good.
“I don’t know how I’ll keep it up. I just go out there and play my game.”
Frimpong’s stunning form and his lofty ambitions make it easy for fans to get carried away.
But the youngster has a sensible head on his shoulders and is aware he needs to serve his apprenticeship.
He could have easily sat tight at City, been part of their EPL squad list while waiting for the odd first-team sniff.
But he’s not the kind of lad who is willing to sit still. Frimpong jumped at the chance to get started at Celtic even if he knows he may need to stay cool at times.
He said: “The target is to get my place in the squad, play consistently and win the league.
“The manager has just told me to keep training as I do.
“If I do that he says I’ll get my chances.
“I knew I’d have to be patient here when I moved from City.
“It’s not hard to be patient. I know that I have a long journey ahead of me.
“It’s good playing now but there are going to be loads more chances in the future. So it’s nothing to worry about.”