Hamburger SV gave Nigerian striker Terem Moffi an encouraging welcome on Monday as the Bundesliga club opened its competitive season with a 3-0 win at SC Verl in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Soccernet.ng reports.
The result at the Sportclub Arena also brought an important moment for 19-year-old Kelvin Ojo. The German-Nigerian forward was included in the Hamburg senior squad for the first time and watched the win from the substitutes’ bench.
Ojo’s call-up is another step in his progress at HSV. The forward has spent much of his time with Hamburger SV II in the Regionalliga Nord, Germany’s fourth tier, but has also trained with the first team during the summer. HSV had already taken him into its first-team training group during its August training camp.
His senior opportunity came after a strong start to life with the club’s reserve side. Ojo scored three goals in 26 Regionalliga appearances last season. He also scored in HSV II’s 2-2 draw with SV Todesfelde on August 12, giving his side the lead in the 14th minute. HSV said he had recently been a regular part of first-team training.
Grønbæk sets up perfect start for Moffi
Hamburg took control of the cup tie late in the first half. Albert Grønbæk opened the scoring in the 41st minute after reacting quickly to a mistake during a Verl build-up. The Danish midfielder won the ball and finished from inside the area to give HSV a 1-0 lead.
The visitors then struck again immediately after the restart. Grønbæk completed his brace in the 46th minute before Louis Pepe Lemke added a third goal in the 50th minute, with Nicolai Remberg providing the assist.
The 3-0 result sent Hamburg into the second round and gave coach Merlin Polzin a strong start to the club’s first competitive match of the campaign. HSV had entered the cup match after a 2-1 pre-season win away to Toulouse.
Ojo did not get onto the pitch, but his place among the substitutes was significant. His progress now gives Polzin another young attacking option as Hamburg prepares for the demands of Bundesliga football.
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That development is also interesting because Ojo and Moffi now share a Nigerian connection inside the Hamburg squad. Ojo has German and Nigerian nationality, while Moffi joins HSV as a Super Eagles striker.
Moffi’s arrival was confirmed by HSV earlier on Monday. The 27-year-old centre-forward joined from OGC Nice after spending the second half of last season on loan at FC Porto. He passed his medical examinations in Hamburg before signing his contract. The club has given him the No. 9 shirt.
The transfer gives Moffi a fresh start in Germany and gives Hamburg an experienced striker for another Bundesliga challenge. HSV sporting board member Kathleen Krüger said the Nigerian’s physical strength and international experience would give the team more options in attack.
Moffi is expected to join his new team-mates in training this week. His first competitive chance could come on Saturday, when Hamburg travel to face Borussia Dortmund in their Bundesliga opener.
