BL coach ice cold

Coach suspends player twice in three weeks

Aliou Balde (l.) in a duel with Leipzig's David Raum

(Bild: AFP/APA/Ronny HARTMANN)

For the second time in three weeks, Aliou Balde has been suspended by Bochum's new coach Dieter Hecking. "Aliou is missing again, there was another incident that I didn't like," said the 60-year-old, explaining his decision.

Although Hecking did not want to reveal exactly what had happened, he did say: "It was for disciplinary reasons. He had already had disciplinary problems before my time. Now, unfortunately, there was another incident that left me no room for maneuver. That's why he's out for now."

Dieter Hecking has been coach at VfL Bochum since the beginning of November.

(Bild: AFP/APA/INA FASSBENDER)

"The excuse was just bad"
Balde had already been dropped from the squad a few weeks ago, when the 21-year-old left-back was probably late for training, although that may not have been the main reason. "It was just a bad excuse," said his coach on Sport1's "Doppelpass". "If he says he doesn't have a cell phone number of anyone at the club that he can call, that he broke down in his car, then I think that's very naive. Then a young player has to realize: that's not possible, anywhere, in any company and not with us either."

In the summer, Balde moved from Nice to Bochum for one season, but only made five substitute appearances in eleven Bundesliga games. And even off the pitch, the seven-time Guinea international is likely to find it difficult to settle in at the bottom of the German table.