Over the course of our A-League 2020/21 campaign, Brisbane Roar blooded no fewer than six BRFC Academy products as talented young locals continued to earn elite opportunities with Queensland’s only professional club.
Warren Moon’s strong belief in homegrown players and the Club’s commitment to youth development led to A-League appearances for 13 players aged 23 and under, all while reaping on-field rewards as the Roar exceeded external expectations with a fourth-placed finish.
Continuing today with Hassan Ramazani, we’re recapping the recent achievements of the Academy graduates who broke through for professional debuts.
Superb work from Hassan Ramazani at @ALeague training this morning ? pic.twitter.com/NebBfnv9gk
— Brisbane Roar Academy (@AcademyBRFC) November 17, 2020
Pre-season opportunities
With two years of senior NPL Men’s experience under his belt by the time the A-League side commenced pre-season, Ramazani was ready to make inroads into the next level.
The versatile defender earned the opportunity to impress through appearances against the likes of Eastern Suburbs and the NPL All-Stars in November and December.
Head Coach Moon evidently saw enough in that time to make Ramazani a regular fixture at first team training throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
Those efforts ultimately stood him in good stead for a season of progression, resulting in the milestone moment that arrived in May 2021.
Pitted against the Premiers
Just a couple of days on from helping Brisbane Roar Youth to an NPL Queensland win on the Gold Coast, Ramazani was drafted into an A-League matchday squad for the first time on 25 May.
The Matchweek 22 fixture was against no less an opponent than the newly crowned Premiers, Melbourne City.
Ramazani’s big moment arrived in the 83rd minute at Moreton Daily Stadium when he came on in place of Joe Champness and took up a spot on the left side of defence.
The teenager did what was asked as he helped Brisbane see out a clean sheet and a convincing 3-0 victory, finishing his cameo with four successful passes and an unblemished tackle success rate.
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Important in the NPL
Though still just 19, Ramazani has been a regular at the back for Young Roar since 2019.
He scored his maiden senior NPL Men’s goal that season, added another last term and was on the scoresheet again just nine days out from his A-League appearance, finding the net with a tidy header in a 5-1 win over Redlands United.
Ramazani continues to be a key figure in his more natural area of defence, contributing to three clean sheets.
The left-footer will look to help Young Roar stay in Premiership contention over the coming weeks before another promising A-League pre-season comes into focus.
