Kofi Danning
Encyclopedia
Kofi Danning is an Ghanaian born Australia
n football (soccer) player who plays for the A-League
club Brisbane Roar. http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=40143
in southern central Ghana
. Kofi's mother initially moved to Australia on her own, and Kofi lived in Kumasi with his grandmother and extended family until he was reunited with his mother in Canberra
at the age of seven. Following his arrival in Canberra, he was educated Forrest Primary School, then followed on to High School at Telopea Park School
in Barton, Australian Capital Territory
making his mark on the school's sports teams. He later finished years 11 and 12 under the talented sports program at Erindale College
in Canberra
.
and then the O'Connor Knights in the ACT Premier League
, Danning was invited to train with the Australian Institute of Sport
(AIS) squad in 2007. He impressed then coach Steve O'Connor and his successor Ray Junna enough to claim a full scholarship, and spent the following year with the AIS team.
squad on 22 August 2008. He was later billeted with a Ghanaian family in Sydney
's south to allow him to become more settled.
On 3 January 2009, Kofi Danning made his senior debut for Sydney FC
against Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval
, appearing as a 71st minute substitute for club captain Steve Corica
. The game was won 2-0 by Adelaide United. On 11 January 2009, after he had come on as a 63rd minute substitute for Adam Biddle
, he scored his first senior goal for Sydney FC, an 85th minute winner as Sydney FC defeated Wellington Phoenix 1-0 at the Sydney Football Stadium. Receiving the ball out on the left, Danning cut inside and squared the ball to Steve Corica. Corica then played a direct ball to Alex Brosque
, who held off a defender on his back to flick the ball onto a flying Danning, who showed great poise to toe poke it past Phoenix and New Zealand national football team goalkeeper Glen Moss
.
The following week, Kofi Danning made his starting debut against Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium
, and scored his second senior goal in the 25th minute of the game. Young defender Rhyan Grant
rounded his Roar opponent and crossed deep for Danning, who sent a beautiful looping header over the outstretched arms of Roar goalkeeper Griffin McMaster
to level the scores at 1-1. However, Sydney FC
went on to lose 3-1, a result which ended their slim hopes of qualifying for the A-League 2008-09
finals series. Danning also appeared as a 69th minute substitute for Shannon Cole
in Sydney FC's final game of the A-League season, a 4-0 win over the last-placed Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium on 25 January 2009.
Kofi Danning finished the A-League 2008-09
season with four senior appearances and two senior goals. He wore shirt number 35 in these four matches. Following his promotion to the senior squad in January 2009, Danning signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC. He has been given shirt number 11 for the A-League 2009-10 season.
Although the A-League season ended in disappointment for Sydney FC's seniors, it was a very different story for the club's National Youth League squad, who finished as champions for the 2008-09
season. Kofi Danning made 16 appearances for the National Youth League team during the season, scoring four goals. After they had clinched the National Youth League minor premiership by winning 13 and drawing two of their 18 regular season games, Sydney FC progressed to the Grand Final where they met Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium
in Adelaide
on 21 February 2009. Despite their opponents' home advantage, Sydney FC ran out deserving 2-0 winners, with Kofi Danning's strong work in the penalty area leading to Robbie Mileski
's sealing goal in the 77th minute. In Danning's first game for the 2009-10 season against North Queensland Fury, Danning was involved in all 3 goals for the visitors with 1 goal and 2 assists. The result of this game was a 3-2 win to Sydney FC.
Danning tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a match against Melbourne Victory in December 2009 and is expected to be out of action for up to nine months. Danning revealed he had the chance to re-sign with Sydney, but could not see his plight getting any better under Sky Blues coach Vitezslav Lavicka.
club . He made his Roar debut off the bench in the side's 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
's recent edict to tighten its international eligibility rules. After almost a year of lobbying by the FFA
on the basis that genuine immigrants should not be penalised, FIFA declared in August 2009 that Danning would be granted an exemption and cleared to play for the Young Socceroos
in the 2009 under 20's World Cup in Egypt. He is current a member of the Australian under 19's squad currently playing in Indonesia in the AFC Qualification phase.
:
With Sydney FC
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player who plays for the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Brisbane Roar. http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=40143
Early life
Kofi Danning was born in KumasiKumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
in southern central Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. Kofi's mother initially moved to Australia on her own, and Kofi lived in Kumasi with his grandmother and extended family until he was reunited with his mother in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
at the age of seven. Following his arrival in Canberra, he was educated Forrest Primary School, then followed on to High School at Telopea Park School
Telopea Park School
Telopea Park School is a public school in Canberra, Australia. It is named after the adjacent Telopea Park. It was founded in 1923, making it the oldest operating school in Canberra...
in Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Barton, Australian Capital Territory
Barton is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Barton is named after Sir Edmund Barton, Australia's first Prime Minister. Streets in Barton are named after Governors....
making his mark on the school's sports teams. He later finished years 11 and 12 under the talented sports program at Erindale College
Erindale College
Erindale College may refer to:* Erindale College, a secondary college located in Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory* Erindale College, an alternate name for the University of Toronto Mississauga...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Club career
After playing for Canberra FCCanberra FC
Canberra Football Club is an Australian football club from the city of Canberra that competes in the ACT competitions including the ACT Premier League. The club was founded in 1958 as Canberra Croatia by local Croatian Australians, later taking the names HOPE, Croatia Deakin, Canberra Metro and...
and then the O'Connor Knights in the ACT Premier League
ACT Premier League
The ACT Premier League, known as the Gatorade Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is an association football competition contested by clubs affiliated to Capital Football...
, Danning was invited to train with the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
(AIS) squad in 2007. He impressed then coach Steve O'Connor and his successor Ray Junna enough to claim a full scholarship, and spent the following year with the AIS team.
Sydney FC
Following his appointment as Sydney FC youth coach for the inaugural National Youth League season, Steve O'Connor was quick to make Kofi Danning a member of his new squad. Danning was signed as a member of Sydney FC's inaugural National Youth LeagueA-League National Youth League
The A-League National Youth League is an Australian national football league run in parallel to the A-League. The aim of a league is to provide a pathway for young players and state league players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior A-League teams to remain...
squad on 22 August 2008. He was later billeted with a Ghanaian family in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's south to allow him to become more settled.
On 3 January 2009, Kofi Danning made his senior debut for Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
against Adelaide United at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, appearing as a 71st minute substitute for club captain Steve Corica
Steve Corica
Stephen Christopher Corica is a former Australian football player who last played for Australian A-League team Sydney FC. A technically gifted and skillful player playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, he is very versatile, able to play both centrally or out wide, or even pushed up as a...
. The game was won 2-0 by Adelaide United. On 11 January 2009, after he had come on as a 63rd minute substitute for Adam Biddle
Adam Biddle (footballer)
Adam Biddle is an Australian football player who plays for Blacktown City Demons.-Club career:...
, he scored his first senior goal for Sydney FC, an 85th minute winner as Sydney FC defeated Wellington Phoenix 1-0 at the Sydney Football Stadium. Receiving the ball out on the left, Danning cut inside and squared the ball to Steve Corica. Corica then played a direct ball to Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque
Alex Brosque is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for J. League side Shimizu S-Pulse...
, who held off a defender on his back to flick the ball onto a flying Danning, who showed great poise to toe poke it past Phoenix and New Zealand national football team goalkeeper Glen Moss
Glen Moss
Glen Moss is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper who currently plays for A-League club Gold Coast United, and has represented New Zealand at international level.-Return to the A-League:...
.
The following week, Kofi Danning made his starting debut against Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
, and scored his second senior goal in the 25th minute of the game. Young defender Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant
Rhyan Grant is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC as well as Australia's U-20 team.-Sydney FC:...
rounded his Roar opponent and crossed deep for Danning, who sent a beautiful looping header over the outstretched arms of Roar goalkeeper Griffin McMaster
Griffin McMaster
Griffin McMaster is an Australian football player. He is currently playing for Heidelberg United in the Victorian Premier League.- Club career :...
to level the scores at 1-1. However, Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
went on to lose 3-1, a result which ended their slim hopes of qualifying for the A-League 2008-09
A-League 2008-09
The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
finals series. Danning also appeared as a 69th minute substitute for Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football A-League for Sydney FC.-Early life:Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, Strathfield...
in Sydney FC's final game of the A-League season, a 4-0 win over the last-placed Newcastle Jets at the Sydney Football Stadium on 25 January 2009.
Kofi Danning finished the A-League 2008-09
A-League 2008-09
The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
season with four senior appearances and two senior goals. He wore shirt number 35 in these four matches. Following his promotion to the senior squad in January 2009, Danning signed a two-year contract with Sydney FC. He has been given shirt number 11 for the A-League 2009-10 season.
Although the A-League season ended in disappointment for Sydney FC's seniors, it was a very different story for the club's National Youth League squad, who finished as champions for the 2008-09
A-League National Youth League 2008–09
The A-League National Youth League's 2008-09 season is the first season of the Australian A-League National Youth League football competition.-Home and away season:...
season. Kofi Danning made 16 appearances for the National Youth League team during the season, scoring four goals. After they had clinched the National Youth League minor premiership by winning 13 and drawing two of their 18 regular season games, Sydney FC progressed to the Grand Final where they met Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on 21 February 2009. Despite their opponents' home advantage, Sydney FC ran out deserving 2-0 winners, with Kofi Danning's strong work in the penalty area leading to Robbie Mileski
Robbie Mileski
Robbie Mileski or Robert Mileski is an Australian football player currently plays for Australian club Sydney Olympic FC. He previously played for NSW Premier League club Bankstown City Lions....
's sealing goal in the 77th minute. In Danning's first game for the 2009-10 season against North Queensland Fury, Danning was involved in all 3 goals for the visitors with 1 goal and 2 assists. The result of this game was a 3-2 win to Sydney FC.
Danning tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a match against Melbourne Victory in December 2009 and is expected to be out of action for up to nine months. Danning revealed he had the chance to re-sign with Sydney, but could not see his plight getting any better under Sky Blues coach Vitezslav Lavicka.
Brisbane Roar
On 27 June 2011, Danning signed a two-year deal with A-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club . He made his Roar debut off the bench in the side's 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
International career
Born in Ghana but a resident of Australia since 1999, Danning had been caught up in FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
's recent edict to tighten its international eligibility rules. After almost a year of lobbying by the FFA
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
on the basis that genuine immigrants should not be penalised, FIFA declared in August 2009 that Danning would be granted an exemption and cleared to play for the Young Socceroos
Australia national under-20 football team
The Australia national under-20 association football team, more commonly known as the Young Socceroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 20 or youth football competitions....
in the 2009 under 20's World Cup in Egypt. He is current a member of the Australian under 19's squad currently playing in Indonesia in the AFC Qualification phase.
A-League statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... |
2008-09 A-League 2008-09 The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion... |
3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009-10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2010-11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Brisbane Roar | 2011-12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Brisbane Roar total | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 2 | |
| Career total | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 2 | |
Honours
With AustraliaAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
:
- AFC U-19 Championship: 2010 (Runners-Up)
- International Cor Groenewegen Tournament (U-20): 2009
With Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010
- National Youth LeagueA-League National Youth LeagueThe A-League National Youth League is an Australian national football league run in parallel to the A-League. The aim of a league is to provide a pathway for young players and state league players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior A-League teams to remain...
Championship: 2008-2009A-League National Youth League 2008–09The A-League National Youth League's 2008-09 season is the first season of the Australian A-League National Youth League football competition.-Home and away season:...