Said El Mala marked his first goal of the season in FC Koln's 3-2 opening win over Hoffenheim with a special celebration. The midfielder revealed afterwards that his frozen pose was a tribute to German basketball world champion Dennis Schröder.
The details come from a report by Bild Sport. El Mala scored the equaliser in the 51st minute, setting Koln on course for a crucial first three points of the campaign. For the player, it was also his first goal while wearing the iconic number 10 shirt.
What was the meaning behind the celebration?
El Mala's unusual goal celebration, where he stood completely still, raised eyebrows. He provided the explanation himself. "Ich wollte den Jubel von Dennis einfach nachmachen. Er macht den ja immer, wenn er einen Dreier wirft," said the 26-year-old. The so-called "freeze celebration" is known from the NBA and international basketball. El Mala had seen it live last week during a German national basketball team game at the Lanxess Arena and practiced it afterwards.
Before the Bundesliga opener last weekend, a personal meeting took place on Thursday around the Germany vs Netherlands game. El Mala and the 32-year-old Dennis Schröder exchanged jerseys and the FC Koln star got an autograph. Since then, the two athletes have been in contact via Instagram. Schröder sent him a message after their meeting, encouraging El Mala to keep giving full effort.
How important was the goal for El Mala?
The 51st-minute strike meant more than just levelling the score. It was El Mala's first goal with the legendary number 10 on his back. "Das ist natürlich etwas Besonderes. Ich trage die 10 mit Stolz und arbeite jeden Tag hart dafür." admitted the attacking player. He felt the weight of expectation that comes with that number. The goal brought not only personal relief but was a key step for the team, which turned the game around after falling behind.
El Mala stressed that while he doesn't know Schröder very well, he considers him a great and down-to-earth person. He described the basketball player as one of the best in his field, especially in Germany. The spontaneous tribute was thus a gesture of admiration between two top athletes from different disciplines in Cologne.
What's next for FC Koln?
The win against Hoffenheim gives the team momentum for the challenges ahead. The next test comes on September 4th with an away match at VfB Stuttgart. The current personnel situation remains tight, as the injury list shows. Alongside Timo Hübers and Linton Maina, the offensive players Luca Waldschmidt and Sebastian Sebulonsen are also sidelined. The coach and team must compensate for these absences in the coming matches.
The team will face strong opposition in Stuttgart. A look at the league table shows how important every point is from the start. For El Mala and his teammates, the task is to carry the positive mood from the first game. Preparation for this important away fixture has already begun. All other fixtures for the first half of the season can be found on our fixtures page.
The season started successfully, but the road is long. The performance against Hoffenheim, especially the reaction after conceding, provides reason for optimism. The coming weeks will show if the team can maintain this line.
