Young English striker Daniel Adu-Adjei spoke to RTL Danas about adapting to life in Rijeka, his thoughts on coach Kek, and what he expects from the crucial European match against Ilves.
Last August, he arrived from England to the Kvarner region as a young striker eager to prove himself, and today Daniel Adu-Adjei is one of Rijeka's key players. In an interview with RTL Danas reporter Helena Barić, the 21-year-old footballer of Ghanaian descent revealed how he has settled into his new environment, which Croatian habit has particularly won him over, and the team's mood ahead of an important European test.
Although he came from bustling London, Adu-Adjei quickly grew to love the pace of life in Kvarner. "When I go back to London, I always say I start missing life by 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.
He is especially thrilled by the proximity of the coast, though he admits one unusual detail. "What I like most is living by the sea and the nice weather. But I don't swim, yet 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 completely unexpectedly adopted from 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 Finnish side Ilves on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Rujevica Stadium in the first leg of the Conference League third qualifying round.
"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 Rijeka, Ilves match exclusively on RTL and the Voyo platform at 8:45 PM, with live text coverage on Net.hr.
