Jon Tuxworth August 07, 2012
Kofi Danning has signed a deal to play for a Belgian second division team. Photo: Melissa Adams
For someone as family-oriented as Kofi Danning moving interstate, let alone abroad, was a daunting enough thought.
But the Canberra product said leaving the comforts of home to ply his trade in Belgium's second division was a sacrifice he had to make.
The 21-year-old speedster will leave for Europe as soon as tomorrow after parting ways with Brisbane Roar with a year left on his contract.
Danning has signed a two-year deal with CS Vise, with an option for a third, after he caught the eye of club officials with a fine performance in the Roar's Asian Champions League draw with Beijing Guoan in May.
The creative winger struggled for first team football at Brisbane after moving there from Sydney FC during last year.
''It came out of nowhere, it was just something that happened in the space of two weeks,'' Danning said from his Canberra home yesterday.
''I definitely want to experience the culture of football, because it is the number one sport over there.
''The main thing is to go there and prove myself as a player and use the experience to benefit my career.
''It see it as an opportunity to put my name out there and to one day sign for a big club.''
Ghana-born Danning's life unexpectedly turned on its head when he was told of CS Vise's interest when he fronted for Roar's pre-season training.
''Rado [Vidosic, Roar coach] let me know they were interested in me and he let me choose whether I wanted to proceed further with it or stay at the Roar,'' Danning said.
''The club [Brisbane] has been great and gave me all the right information and people to contact, they helped me through the whole process.
''It's happened quickly and I'm trying to find out as much information about the club and its history as I can.''
He is also making the most of every second left with his family before he jets off.
''I have a lot of people I keep very close to me and that is going to be the hardest thing,'' he said.
''Also the change, the different language, the culture and how different it is to Australia.
''To go somewhere and experience something completely different is going to be difficult, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.''
Danning is the latest of a number of A-League players to head abroad, but he insisted the domestic competition was doing its job if it was opening doors for young talent.
''A lot of young players are coming out of the woodwork and if they can get some game time in the A-League, it will help them get to a few other places they want to go,'' Danning said.
''Rado was saying he thinks the A-League is a higher level, but the Belgian team think their level is higher than the A-League.
''I guess it depends on opinion, but I see it more as an opportunity.''