Playing for Kotoko demands a lot - Nii Adjei

Correspondent:  Jerome Otchere

12th June 2007

Former Norchip player and now a key figure in Kotoko’s defensive set up, Daniel Nii Adjei says being a Kotoko player comes with arduous responsibilities. According to the nineteen year-old footballer it is not easy wearing the red jersey of the fabulous club and what is more, playing in front of the teeming supporters.

“In Ghana whoever says that it is easy playing for Kotoko may not be telling the truth. Kotoko has many supporters. The supporters demand nothing but victory all the time. They want the best and that high demand for success makes me think a Kotoko player has to work hard. You have to perform well in all matches” Nii Adjei said on Wednesday.

The Kotoko Express had called him on to find out how he has fared six months after signing for the club. He said it had always been his dream to play for Kotoko and having achieved that aim one of his objectives was to play to the best of his ability.

“The aim of every serious footballer is to play for the best team. Kotoko is the best team. My dream had been to play Kotoko and now that has been achieved all I have to do is to impress my coach and the supporters”.

He intimated that it was only footballers with a big heart that signed for Kotoko. “My little experience at Kotoko tells me, if you not are serious and courageous you cannot be a Kotoko player. You have to be good to deal with the challenges of representing the club playing for Kotoko” the player said.

Although he had been training with the Kotoko U-20 side for a long time, Nii Adjei was a player of Norcip F. C. He was promoted to the Kotoko senior team by Coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie. He however could not feature for the club until management registered him in January this year.

Nii Adjei featured prominently in Kotoko’s matches in the second round of the Onetouch Premier League playing in defence even though he came as a midfielder. He has been instrumental in Kotoko’s recent triumphs in the Top 4, defending strongly.

He has scored one goal for the club - the third goal in the Kotoko-King Faisal 50th Independence Anniversary match played at the Len Clay Sports Stadium this year. So how does Nii Adjei assess his performance since coming to Kotoko?

 “I must admit that it has not been an easy. I have no problems. At first I was shaky but after a couple training sessions and playing a number of matches I have gained the confidence needed to play for Kotoko. I have been moving on” Nii Adjei said.

He stressed that he was committed to Kotoko and in his three-year stay in the club he would do his best help lift Kotoko’s image. “If you ask me where I want play after Kotoko, I will say let us wait. I am interested in helping my colleagues to make Kotoko successful. That is my aim now. Things did not go the well for us in the league. In the Top 4, we have been doing our best and it is my prayer that this good performance continues” Nii Adjei defender.