Siriki Dembele: Grimsby Town striker wins EFL Young Player of the Month award
- Published
Siriki Dembele, 21, has started all 19 of Grimsby's League Two games so far this season
There can not be many professional footballers who have to battle with their 14-year-old brother for a share of the limelight.
Life in the Dembele household is clearly a little different.
Karamoko Dembele, the middle of three brothers, has been the subject of a huge amount of media attention since making his debut for Celtic's under-20s aged 13 in October 2016.
As well as training with Celtic's first team, the forward has already represented both England and Scotland at under-15 level.
Youngest brother Hassan is also on Celtic's books as part of their under-nines squad.
But what of their big brother?
Grimsby forward Siriki Dembele, winner of October's EFL Young Player of the Month award, has taken on the role of elder statesman to his talented siblings.
"I try to give them advice. The most important thing is to believe in yourself. I try to keep them grounded and focused on what they're doing no matter what people are saying, whether that is good or bad," he told BBC Sport.
"Sometimes in life you get to where you are because of who you are, so you have to keep believing no matter what."
Karamoko Dembele has represented England and Scotland at youth level and is also eligible to play for Ivory Coast
Such was the level of interest in Karamoko, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was moved to say the player needed to be "left alone to develop".
However, Siriki believes his brother already has the wherewithal to thrive with the pressure.
"I know how good Karamoko is, I truly believe he is going to be one of the best," he told BBC Sport.
"It was fantastic to see him play for the under-20s. I liked it because it gave him exposure but he's a really level-headed boy and he won't be taking the hype to his head and letting it change him. He's really mature for his age.
"He's always been good. The thing is you can get noticed at different times even if you've always been talented."
Siriki's big break
Unlike his brothers, the Grimsby man knows a little bit about having to wait for your opportunity.
The 21-year-old, who moved to Glasgow from London aged six, finds himself showcasing his skills at Blundell Park via spells with Dundee United's academy and the Nike Academy.
The latter, set up in 2009 to give young players another chance to make it in professional football, is based at England's St George's Park complex in Burton and their intake play friendlies against top academies.
"I wanted to come to play in England so I went to trials at the Nike Academy and then got through the global showcase in France," he said.
"It was kind of like we'd been thrown together to start with but training every day and living together meant we got to know each other more.
"I still speak to a few of the players all the time. One went to Wolves last summer, a couple of the goalkeepers joined Bristol Rovers and one of the others has gone to Utrecht in the Netherlands."
'Fantastic' playing for Slade
Siriki Dembele has enjoyed a bright start to his career in Lincolnshire under Russell Slade and Paul Wilkinson
Dembele has been an ever-present for Russell Slade's side in League Two since making his senior debut in the 3-1 win at Chesterfield on the opening day of the season.
However, it was in October when things really clicked. He scored his first senior goal in the win at Port Vale before grabbing a double in the 3-2 victory at Cheltenham.
"It was a special moment to score my first goal because I'd been waiting for a while. I'd come close a few times, hitting the post and things, but that was the day it was meant to happen for me," the diminutive forward said.
"October was a really good month for me and the team and because the team was doing well I could show my own game and individuality more."
The forward credits boss Slade for how well he has handled the transition from academy to professional football.
"Academy football is different because you get much more time on the ball to do your stuff. Men's football is played at a higher tempo and it's much faster. I did get one tackle where I was like 'I felt that' afterwards but it's been good so far," he added.
"It's fantastic playing under Russell and [assistant] Paul Wilkinson; they help me a lot and they have a lot of belief and trust in me. To have a manager and coach be like that with you is really good.
"I want to keep pushing and score more goals now."
There have been several sets of brothers that have played together during successful professional careers - Jack and Bobby Charlton, Gary and Phil Neville, Yaya and Kolo Toure to name three.
So what about Siriki joining up with his striking siblings at some point in the future?
"I'd love that. We'd make a dream team," Dembele concluded.
- Published16 October 2017
- Published14 September 2017
