After just half a dozen games for FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark,he is already being described as a Patrick Viera in the making.
When Enoch Adu Kofi leads the line up for his Danish Super League side against Odense on Saturday, he will have just one thing on his mind....fight and win. But who is this unsung star with so much promise that Ghana seems to have forgotten?
He has played in a World Cup (U-17)and is also a proud gold medalist of the African Youth Championship. He is following in the footsteps of his illustrious seniors like Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan. Yet, Enoch Kofi Adu plays down any talk and comparisons with his big brothers who have attained super star status by dint of hard work, discipline and sheer determination to succeed. "I am proud that I passed through Liberty Professionals in Ghana but I know I have to work hard and be patient to learn as much as I can before I can emulate Gyan, Essien and Muntari."
The intelligent midfielder concedes that his football roots inspires him and he has come a long way from his hometown in Santasi Kumasi to playing a star role for his current team FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark. But the imposing and increasingly influential ball distributor is aware of the potentially glittering path that could open up for him as long as he keeps his eyes on the ball and his head on the game.
"I love to attack but i can also hold the midfield and defend when the coach tells me to."
The Ghanaian is widely regarded as one of the most promising African imports currently playing in the top flight of the Danish league. His coach Morten Wieghorst believes Adu Kofi's rapid progress and development makes it inevitable that the youngster will be a certain big hit barring any major career injuries and perhaps indiscipline.
Coach Wieghorst is a realist and although he has personally guided the Ghanaian to make an instant impact in the physically demanding Danish league,he insists his prized asset still has the capacity to be an all round box to box midfielder. The soft-spoken Adu Kofi has already delivered a number of man of the match performances for his new club who snapped him up from French outfit Nice after the 2010 World Cup Finals.
"Football has always been a part of me and ever since I kicked a ball at the age of five to being scouted by Kumasi Corners Babies in Boshen". True to the predictions of his football mad uncles and other family members who spotted his glaring potential, Adu Kofi was drafted into the national Under 17 team of Ghana known as the Starlets.
Big dreams and high hopes aside, it still came as a welcome shock when Adu Kofi was selected to represent his country at the Under 17 World Cup in Korea whilst still on the books of Corners Babies. He played in all six games for his country before joining Liberty Professionals. Europe quickly beckoned for Adu Kofi and he soon put pen to paper for OGN NICE in France.
The player was part of the squad that lifted the African Youth Cup in Kigali, Rwanda in 2009 playing in two games. Unfortunately for Adu Kofi, injury deprived him of a place at the World Cup in Egypt where Ghana's Under 20 team emerged champions by defeating Brazil on penalties.
After recovering from a spell on the sidelines there was more drama when out of the blue, MŠK Žilina of Slovakia made a bid for the youngster to beef up their midfield ahead of their European Champions League campaign. For Adu Kofi this presented a fine opportunity to play in Europe's elite club championship. However the deal was stalled due to the high cash demands from the French club.
Adu Kofi's late entry into the mainstream of European club football may well have been a blessing in disguise. For now, he says "playing 90 minutes and helping my club win matches is my immediate mission and the rest will follow."
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah is an international Sports Journalist currently on a tour of Europe. He will be tracking down some of Ghana's prominent as well as lesser known footballers.
In this article he meets Ghanaian midfielder Enoch Adu Kofi who plays for FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.
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