Kporha: Making my debut was a ‘crazy feeling’
Caleb Kporha described coming on for his Crystal Palace and senior footballing debut as a ‘crazy feeling’ after featuring for the final few moments against Fulham.
The right-back was an 89th-minute entrant onto the field of play on Saturday afternoon, a proud moment for the 18-year-old after being named on the bench in Palace’s five prior matches.
The teenager showed plenty of energy and confidence on the grand stage, too, getting forwards to good effect and delivering some threatening balls into the box.
Having been on a long journey with the club to reach that point, Kporha smiled: “I’m thankful. Thankful to the gaffer, thankful to God and yeah, hopefully [there are] many more [appearances] to come.
“It didn’t feel real! But yeah, I enjoyed it. I had a few opportunities, put in a few crosses and yeah, I’m happy.”
Kporha described the moment that Oliver Glasner turned to him to let him know his debut had arrived: “I didn't really know [beforehand]. He said Asher [Agbinone]'s name and then afterwards he said my name, so then I realised I’d got the opportunity to come on.
“It's a crazy feeling, just filled with joy inside and yeah, I’m happy to make my debut.”
Kporha joined Palace at Under-16s level in 2021, with his journey as a young player well documented on Channel 4's Football Dreams: The Academy documentary.
Whilst the result on Saturday did not go Palace’s way, Kporha was grateful to Academy coaches, staff, friends and family alike for having reached such a milestone moment in his fledgling career.
“I’m grateful to them as well, because they've helped me a lot to get here,” he said of his family. “They were here – they must've been proud. It makes it all worth it and yeah you’ve, got to enjoy it.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get the result, but we will move on.
“The level is good. Intensity's always high every [training] session, so you've got to be on it. I enjoy it.”