Things are not going as well as hoped for Fortuna Köln in the Regionalliga West. A highly talented player from Fortuna can say the same for himself.

Fortuna Köln wanted to be among the top teams before the season. But after eight games, they have just nine points. Too few for the demands of coach Markus von Ahlen’s team.

Tariq-Emad Suleiman also started the 2022/2023 season with completely different expectations. The 19-year-old, who comes from Cologne’s U19 team, is still waiting to make his Regionalliga debut for Fortuna. So far he has only made 27 senior appearances for Cologne’s Mittelrheinliga side, playing two games of those 27 matches in the current campaign.

“I would be lying if I said I was satisfied. Everyone wants to play, me too of course. So far I’ve always been in the matchday squad hoping for a substitution. But I have to keep working hard, be patient and wait for the opportunity that will come,” says the Cologne midfield talent. He adds: “The coach is currently focusing on experience. Things didn’t go as well for us at the beginning of the season and the coach didn’t want to experiment, he trusted the experienced players. I have to accept that. “

My priority now is Fortuna Cologne. I want to fight my way through and collect a few more minutes in the Regionalliga West this year.

Tariq-Emad Suleiman

Most recently, however, Suleiman played in three games within a week. He was with the Palestine U20 national team at the Vietnam training camp and then at a tournament in Laos. Against Yemen (2:2) Suleiman played through, against Guam (5:0) 45 minutes, including a goal, and against Japan 85 minutes. “But there we got an object lesson in the 0:8. But that was also a good experience. In general, the trip was very good for me. I came back to Cologne more confident and mentally stronger,” says Suleiman.

Playing for Palestine means a lot to Suleiman, who speaks Arabic. The Palestinian already played for his home country at U15 and U16 level. Soon, in November 2022, there will be a home tournament in Palestine. “However, that is not an official Fifa date. I don’t think I will travel there. My priority now is Fortuna Cologne. I want to fight my way through and collect some more playing minutes in the Regionalliga West this year,” emphasises Suleiman.