Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013
Leeds United have confirmed that academy players Afolabi Coker and Smith Tiesse have signed professional contracts with the club.
The defensive duo have penned a one-year deal with the Yorkshire giants, which will commence next summer. They made their mark with the club in their first year and also featured for the title winning Under-18 squad.
Tiesse is delighted to pen the deal and explained that he is looking forward to playing as many games as possible, and making an effort to impress the coaches with his displays.
"I’m delighted to sign", the left-back told his club’s official site.
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"I’ve learnt a lot from the coaches here, and they’ve really helped me, and worked on my weaknesses.
"Pre-season has been hard, but I’m looking forward to getting a few games under my belt and hopefully pushing on in the 21s. My main aims are to push on, do well and try and impress the coaches.”
Coker, for his part, has lavished praise on the club’s Under-18s coach Richard Naylor, and said that the former Leeds United defender has been instrumental in his development as a player.
"Richard (Naylor) was a centre-back and he has taught me a lot of things, and it’s been good working with him. Last season was a great experience”, the centre-back said.
"Hopefully we can win the [Under-18s] league again this season and hopefully I can play a few games in the Under-21s.
“When you see the players come through here, you hope that chance will come and you have to take it”, Coker added.
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