Kofi Danning Sydney FC and Young Socceroo started football in Australia in Canberra with Majura FC.
This interview appears as part of a series of podcasts on the Majura FC junior club website, or will do in coming days.
This is Kofi's story......to date!
Download here
Gold Coast stomped their rich footprint all over the A-League with a 5-0 home win, Wellington beat Perth in front of a healthy 10,000 crowd, Melbourne came back from 3-1 to draw 3-3 with Brisbane and the F3 Derby saw the Jets draw 1-1 with the Mariners.
Sydney had a tough test against a fit, tactically sound Adelaide United.
Despite some errors from Karol Kisel and Terry McFlynn in midfield throughout the game Sydney remained strong and won the game through substitute's Mark Bridge wonderful link play with Alex Brosque.
Korean import full-back Byun Sung-Hwan impressed again, quickly becoming a crowd favourite, but once again it was Kofi Danning who took the eye.
Up against the uncompromising Scott Jamison Danning was tested early, but the longer the game went the young star just got better and better. Another test passed for the young star.
Wonderful stuff.
And with Mark Bridge, Mitchell Prentice, Adam Casey, Brendan Gan, Rhyan Grant, Stuart Musialik among those fighting for a starting birth, seems like Sydney might have a bit more fight in them this season. Early days.
Kofi Danning, and Sam Munro are off to Europe with the Under 20 Australian side.
Notice a heap of overseas joining them including maybe the pick of the bunch? Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany),
And will Kofi be back? You can be sure with games against Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Valencia and co it won't be just the Aussie Coaches having a look will it. Let's hope a few of the A-League boys return for a while at least.
Australian-based players selected by Head Coach, Jan Versleijen, for an 18 man Qantas Young Socceroos squad for a European training camp has departed Australia this afternoon as part of their preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt in September/October.
The touring squad is comprised of 14 players from Hyundai A-League and National Youth League teams and four players from overseas clubs.
The players travelled with newly appointed Assistant Coach and former Qantas Socceroo, Ante Milicic, and former Hyundai A-League player and former Wellington Phoenix assistant coach, Wayne O’Sullivan, who has been appointed as video analyst for the team.
The Qantas Young Socceroos will participate in two tournaments in the Netherlands and also play friendly matches against De Graafschap and the Egyptian U-20 national team. The two tournaments involve modified matches, played with 20 minute halves, with teams playing two or three games a day.
Versleijen has also invited Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mitchell Nicholson (Dorchester Town, England), Brent McGrath (Brondy, Denmark), Rocco Visconte (Hearts FC, Scotland), Dylan McGowan (Hearts FC, Scotland), Christos Tamaros (Apollon Kalamarias, Greece) and Robert Stambolziev (Bristol City, England)to train with the squad with a view towards possible future selection in the playing squad.
“We have chosen this European tour due to the fact that we have European Opposition (Czech Republic) at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt," said Versleijen.
"Later in the year we will head to South America for another training camp to test ourselves against opposition similar to the playing styles of Brazil and Costa Rica whom we also meet at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“An important reason for this tour is for the players to get international experience against different teams and to strengthen our playing style, but I will also use the opportunity to see some new faces from overseas clubs and assess if they can add something to the squad,” said Versleijen.
“The benefit of playing in these two tournaments is that the players will have many games in a short period of time against a variety of opposition," concluded Versleijen.
In July, The Qantas Young Socceroos are scheduled to embark on a South American tour to Venezuela as they continue their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.
The Qantas Young Socceroos have been drawn in Group E for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, alongside Brazil, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 which will be played from 24 September to 16 October.
The Qantas Young Socceroos qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup by progressing to the semi-final stage at the AFC U-19 Championships in Saudi Arabia last year.
ENDS
Qantas Young Socceroos Squad List
Mark BIRIGHITTI (Adelaide United), Oliver BOZANIC (Reading FC, England), Luke BRATTAN (Brisbane Roar), Isaka CERNAK (Brisbane Roar), Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Kofi DANNING (Sydney FC), Luke DE VERE (Brisbane Roar), Nathan ELASI (Melbourne Victory), Rhyan GRANT (Sydney FC), James HOLLAND (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Matthew JURMAN (Sydney FC), Ryan McGOWAN (Hearts FC, Scotland), Tahj MINNIECON (Gold Coast United) Daniel MULLEN (Adelaide United), Sam MUNRO (Sydney FC), Mitch NICHOLLS (Brisbane Roar), Thomas OAR (Brisbane Roar), Andrew REDMAYNE (Central Coast Mariners)
Match Schedule
DateMatch TypeFixtureVenueKick-Off (CEST)Kick-Off (AEST)
19 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v De Graafschap Terborg1:00pm9:00pm
22 May 2009TTValencia CF v Qantas Young Socceroos Terborg2:10pm10:10pm
TTQantas Young Socceroos v FeyenoordTerborg7:10pm3:10am
23 May 2009TTQantas Young Socceroos v Atletico MineiroTerborg11:40am7:40pm
TTDe Graafschap v Qantas Young SocceroosTerborg3:00pm11:00pm
24 May 2009TTTerborg Touwernooi Finals Series Terborg
26 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v Egypt U-20 Terborg11:00am7:00pm
30 May 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v PSV EindhovenUitgeest12:00pm8:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v Ajax AmsterdamUitgeest1:40pm9:40pm
ICGTCeltic v Qantas Young SocceroosUitgeest3:30pm11:30pm
1 June 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v FC UitgeestUitgeest10:00am6:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v VitesseUitgeest11:35am7:35pm
ICGTSemi Finals and FinalsUitgeest2:00pm10:00pm
You might have missed it but former Majura junior and AIS Graduate Kofi Danning came on for his A-League debut for Sydney FC on Saturday night.
He didn't change the game, nor make much of an impact. But he played in front of 23,000 fans in Adelaide and he's just 17.
Good luck to our latest Canberra football rising star.
FourFourTwo are hyping up "our Kofi" Danning as he aims to take it to the other Youth Teams in the National Youth League.
Sydney FC's Kofi Danning (right) and Newcastle Jets, Jason Naidovski recently appeared on Nearpost Radio.
The former Majura junior club will be back to earth with a bang when he takes on his Canberra mates, the ACT Youth Rockets, in Sydney this arvo.
Not sure about the nickname, good old Australia I guess never lets you down does it!
And "The Coffee Man" as he's nicknamed perhaps not surprisingly hopes to be in Europe in the future, but right now, establishing himself in the A-League with a senior contract is his goal.Full fourfourtwo article on Kofi below.
Majura junior, Kofi Danning to star for Sydney FC Youth and Sam Munro in the Sydney squad see below....
ACT Young Rockets have been training for the past four weeks and look like they have a number of fixtures against A-League Youth teams lined up.
They could start as early as the opening A-League Youth League round against Sydney FC if all goes to plan on Friday 26th September, with further games against the Central Coast, Newcastle Jets and possibly Melbourne Jets to follow.
It is a great opportunity for the young players of the ACT and provides them a chance to show case their skills.
Sydney FC Press Release starts here:
Sydney set for start of Youth League
In just a few weeks time there’ll be an important new player on the Australian football landscape, with the FFA’s National Youth League competition set to kick off in the last weekend of September.
After months of trials and tribulations, Sydney FC youth coach, Steve O’Connor has now finalised his squad, and he’s excited about the opportunity the league will offer the next generation of Australian footballers.
“I think it is important because it gives pathways for all out talented young players so that they know the way for them to get to the A-League is by getting into a Youth League team,” said O’Connor.
With most of Sydney’s players coming from the ranks of the New South Wales Premier League, O’Connor has had to bide his time waiting to assemble his squad, and the side has only recently stepped up its preparations for the coming season.
Despite the slow start, squad-members, Matt Jurman and Robbie Mileski have already picked up first-team experience during the opening rounds of the Hyundai A-League season, and the Sydney mentor is keen to ensure all his young charges appreciate the chance they’re about to be given.
“I want them to be focused on that opportunity and be aware of it that they’re playing for positions,” explained O’Connor. “Hopefully they’ll put a bit of pressure on the senior players because in some respects they’ve had a bit of a charmed life over the last 3 years without very much pressure, so this changes the landscape a little bit.”
There are only 12 places in FC’s Youth Team, with the side to be bolstered week-to-week by un-selected players from the senior squad.
‘Football Superstar’ winner, Adam Hett was one of Sydney’s first signings, but a season ending knee injury has seen the Perth player replaced in O’Connor’s final side.
“It’s unfortunate for Adam but we’ll keep track of his recovery with an eye to next season,” said the former AIS Coach. “His bad luck was somebody else’s good fortune though, I suppose, but it’s all done and dusted now and we’ll see how we go in the competition.”
This Saturday the entire Youth Team will be introduced to the Sydney faithful at the SFS, at half-time in FC’s Hyundai A-League clash with Adelaide United.
Sydney will enjoy a bye in the first round of the National Youth League and will begin its campaign on October 4 against Queensland.
The final squad is as follows:
Name Age Position Former Club
Vedran JANJETOVIC 21 Goalkeeper Sydney United
Sam MUNRO 17 Defender AIS – Canberra
Matt JURMAN 18 Defender Sydney Olympic
Anthony GOLEC 18 Defender Sydney United
Chris TRIANTIS 20 Midfielder Sydney Olympic
Zachary CAIRNCROSS18 Defender Marconi
Rhyan GRANT 17 Midfielder AIS – Bathurst
Brendan GAN 20 Midfielder Sutherland
Sean ROONEY 19 Striker Blacktown
Robbie MILESKI 21 Midfielder Bankstown City Lions
Kofi DANNING17 StrikerAIS - Canberra
Ibrahim HAYDAR20 DefenderBankstown City Lions
Coaching staff:
Head Coach: Steve O’Connor
Assistant Coaches: Steve Corica and Grant Lee
Goalkeeper Coach: John Filan
Physiotherapist: Stuart Turner
Trainer: Kylie Johnson
Former Majura junior and current AIS Scholarship holder Kofi Danning is being chased by the new Gold Coast club. Miron Blieberg has been watching recent AIS games.
But then again Miron every A-League Club is after this player, a young player with who it is hoped will go on to bigger things.
One AIS insider said, "Kofi could play English Premier League or European Champions League. We think he has such potential." And I've rarely heard the AIS talk any player up over the years.
A busload of South Melbourne fans are heading to Canberra for the AIS v South Melbourne clash on June 22nd. Great to see their dedication.
How many fans would come from Melbourne or Sydney for A-League clashes if we had a Canberra team? Sorry, just wishful thinking.
This weekend the AIS take on Heidelberg United. Watch out for young Canberra flyer Kofi Danning. Big things, big things expected of the young lad, this from an AIS team that NEVER, and I mean NEVER in my knowledge, talk up any players.
Will he play EPL or Champions League, that's the rumour....assuming every thing else goes to plan, watch him while you can!
