When the National Youth League competition kicked off a just over a month ago the 12 young men in Sydney FC’s side started out, not only with hopes of taking the inaugural title, but also with dreams of earning a place in the Hyundai A-League.
When the National Youth League competition kicked off a just over a month ago the 12 young men in Sydney FC-s side started out, not only with hopes of taking the inaugural title, but also with dreams of earning a place in the Hyundai A-League.
Five weeks down the track and that dream has already been realised for two members of the youth team, now two more player have been added to the growing list of rising stars recruited to the senior squad, with Kofi Danning and Rhyan Grant this week accepting two year deals.
“It-s been an amazing week for me,” said Danning, who scored a double for Sydney-s youth side in its weekend win over the Melbourne Victory. “I just thought I-d be playing Youth League for the whole year, so being offered a contract at this stage is amazing.”
Danning and Grant will play out the remainder of the Youth League season with their team-mates, but starting next year they-ll become part of FC-s Hyundai A-League squad, along-side fellow young-guns, Matthew Jurman and Antony Golec, and there could be more signings to come.
“It-s really exciting. For all of us to go together, we-re developing a special bond within the team and we can share this experience together,” Danning explained.
Grant added, “To have a few of my mates there with Kofi and Antony, to have them there will make it a bit easier because it-s a big step.”
Both players are excited at being given their chance as professional footballers, but for now they-re keeping their focus on the job at hand.
“It-s pretty surreal at the moment, it hasn-t really sunk in to tell you the truth,” said Grant. “It-s great to have this opportunity but we-ve still got a job to do in the Youth League so we have to put that aside and do our best for the youth team at the moment and hopefully have a good season there.”
Danning and Grant were both recruited to the Sydney FC youth squad from the AIS football program in Canberra, and both will be wearing Sky Blue until at least April, 2011.
