Akpala introduction: “I am not Usain Bolt”

They were born on nearly the same day 26 years ago. They are both fast, though Joseph Akpala cannot run the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds. And he doesn't hold three world records, like Usain Bolt. "I am not a track athlete. I am not Usain Bolt. On the pitch I can run very fast and hold the ball well. I love playing football and scoring goals," said new acquisition Joseph Akpala at his official presentation on Monday, referring to the Jamaican superstar. Akpala's concentration is on a bigger goal with Werder. "Achieve something great!"

The Nigerian native with a Belgian passport should be an "enrichment" for the Green-Whites, according to Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf. "We are overjoyed that Joseph is now a part of the team. We have worked a couple years already on this transfer. Joseph is the missing piece on the way to a successful season," said Werder manager Klaus Allofs.

Now Akpala has four more days of training to possibly be on the pitch on Saturday and take in the atmosphere at Weser Stadium. "I was impressed by the atmosphere in Dortmund. Not only from the Dortmund fans but also from the fans of SV Werder. They were really loud and their cheers could really be understood. That was something special for me. I had never seen that before. In the stadium I thought it was a home game for Werder Bremen," said Akpala. The striker said he's fit and ready for Saturday. And Schaaf sees it that way as well. "He had a long preparation in Bruges and trained intensively in that time. He has a good fitness level. He is definitely ready physically. Now he has to get to know us on the pitch. I have no doubts that he will do that quickly," said Schaaf.

Maybe he could show off his skills on the pitch already against Hamburg - wearing number 19 on his back. "When I left my homeland for Europe, I was 19," said Akpala on why he chose that number.