Kofi Danning
Duke Kofi Appiah Danning (born 2 March 1991) is a Ghanaian-born Australian footballer who plays for National Premier Leagues club Belconnen United. Biography Early life Danning was born in Kumasi 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 11th and 12th grade under the talented sports program at Erindale College in Canberra. Club career After playing for Canberra FC 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. Sydney FC Following his appointment as Sydney FC youth coach for the inaugural National Youth League season, Steve O'Connor was quick to make Danning a member of his new squad. Danning was signed as a member of Sydney FC's inaugural National Youth League 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, 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