Daniel Adu-Adjei, Rijeka's 21-year-old footballer, talks to RTL Danas about life on the Kvarner coast, a new habit he's picked up, and the challenge against Finland's Ilves.
When he arrived from England to the Kvarner coast last August, he was just a young striker eager to prove himself. Today, Daniel Adu-Adjei is one of Rijeka's key players. In a conversation with Helena Barić, a reporter for RTL Danas, the 21-year-old footballer of Ghanaian descent revealed details about his adaptation, his favorite moments in his new surroundings, and the mood in the dressing room ahead of an important European clash.
Despite coming from the hustle and bustle of London, Adu-Adjei quickly fell in love with life on the Kvarner coast. "Whenever I go back to London, I always say I start missing the sea and the sunshine I get here every week. I really enjoy living here, and I've adapted very well," he told RTL Danas.
The proximity of the coast particularly delights him, although he admits one unusual detail. "What I like most is living by the sea and the nice weather. However, I don't swim, but it's still great that I can get to the sea in just a five-minute drive," he added with a smile.
What he has unexpectedly adopted from the Croats is the ritual of drinking coffee. "Before coming to Rijeka, I didn't drink coffee at all, but I'd say the coffee culture here is really big. I've embraced it, and I've been drinking it for a year now. I really like it," the young striker admitted.
On the pitch, Adu-Adjei has opened the season impressively, scoring two goals, against Derry City and Rudeš. Now the focus is on the upcoming European challenge. Rijeka will host Finland's Ilves on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Rujevica Stadium in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League.
"We know they'll be a quality team. We know they'll want to win. That's why I think it's all on us, to play our football. When we play at our best, we can compete with any opponent. We're all very confident ahead of the match," he said.
He credits coach Matjaž Kek for the great atmosphere and high ambitions. "He sets very high standards and is very demanding, which is great as a player because you come to training every day knowing what's expected of you, and it pushes you to get the most out of yourself. It's really great working with him," Adu-Adjei concluded.
You can watch the match between Rijeka and Ilves exclusively on RTL and the Voyo platform at 8:45 PM, and follow the live text coverage on Net.hr.
