Adu Adjei after goal in Derry: Mom was the first to call
The young Rijeka striker scored his first goal of the season, and the celebration was made even more special by his brother, friend, and manager cheering him on from the stands.
The young Rijeka striker scored his first goal of the season, and the celebration was made even more special by his brother, friend, and manager cheering him on from the stands.
Daniel Adu Adjei had every reason to be pleased after Rijeka defeated the hosts away from home and secured their place in the next round of European competition. The young forward also scored his first goal of the new campaign, and the evening was made even more special by the presence of his loved ones in the stands, as reported by Sportske novosti.
Since the match was played not far from his home in England, his brother, friend, and manager had no doubts about traveling to support him in person. In the end, they were all able to celebrate both the goal and the victory that secured Rijeka's progression to the next round.
"Yes, my brother, friend, and manager were at the match. It was great to see them, and even better to score a goal in front of them and get the win. It was fantastic to meet up with them after the game and enjoy that moment together," Adu Adjei told Sportske novosti.
His brother reacted with great enthusiasm after the goal and, by all accounts, drowned out the rest of the crowd. For the young forward, that came as no surprise, given that his brother has been cheering him on in the same way since his earliest days.
"He's been the same since I was nine years old. Every time I scored, he would celebrate in the same way. It's incredible to have that kind of support, and I'm very grateful he could come. The match wasn't too far from where I live, so it meant a lot to have him here," he added.
While those present at the stadium congratulated him immediately after the match, the first message to arrive from outside was likely from his mother. She is currently in Ghana and couldn't witness another fine evening for her son in person.
"My mom was probably the first to get in touch. She couldn't come because she's in Ghana right now, but I think she was the first to send me a message," he revealed.
The joy was shared with the players by Rijeka's loyal fans. The journey to Northern Ireland is not easy, especially due to visa procedures, but the White-and-Blues once again had vocal support. Their chants echoed around the pitch for the entire match, and Adu Adjei believes it gave the team a much-needed boost.
"It was incredible. The fans were brilliant throughout the match and gave us motivation," he emphasized.
Rijeka already knows the name of their next European opponent. A clash with Finnish side Ilves awaits, but before that, the domestic league season kicks off. Sunday's match against Rudeš is currently the absolute focus of attention.
"We believe in ourselves no matter who we play. Right now, all our focus is on Sunday's match. We want to take all three points and start the league well, and then we'll turn our attention to Thursday," he said.
Last season, Rijeka shone in Europe and the Cup, but in the league race, they didn't reach their full potential. Adu Adjei believes the dressing room has learned its lesson and can now aim much higher.
"I think we can achieve as much as we allow ourselves. Last season, we dropped points in matches where we know we could have done much better. I think at this moment we can compete for everything. If we stay focused, handle the pace well, and control games, we can do great things this season," he stated.
Although he came through English football academies, he truly experienced senior football on a consistent basis only after arriving at Rujevica. After nearly a year, he feels he has settled in well, and he credits his teammates for much of that.
"I feel like I've adapted. All my teammates have helped me with that, and the squad is great when it comes to welcoming new players and helping them settle in. I think I've done well. It's been almost a year, and I feel like I'm getting used to the culture, the teammates, and the competitive rhythm of playing every three days in the league, Europe, or the Cup. I'm really enjoying it at the moment," he said.
The Croatian league has turned out to be roughly what he imagined before his transfer. It's more tactically demanding than academy football, and the step up to senior competition has brought a whole new level of physical intensity.
"I expected the football to be more tactical and that I'd need time to get used to playing senior football week in, week out after coming from an academy. There's also the physical challenge because I'm now playing against grown men, plus European matches and everything else. So far, it's been a great experience for me," he explained.
In the Rijeka shirt, he has already scored several important goals, with the matches against Omonia standing out in particular. One is dear to him because of its significance, while he considers the other his best technically.
"My favorite goal is the one against Omonia at Rujevica. It was a big match and a big night for us, so it meant a lot to score and get the win. If I have to pick my best goal, it's probably the one away at Omonia," he recalled.
Off the pitch, he is also satisfied with the quality of life. The city on the Rječina River and Croatia as a whole quickly won him over, and his girlfriend, who studies in England but visits regularly, has been a great support during his adjustment.
"Life in Rijeka is great. My girlfriend can come here often. I'm really enjoying life in Croatia right now. It's a beautiful area, the people are great, and the fans are very welcoming, which has made the whole transition easier for me," he pointed out.
Adu Adjei gives the impression of a player who is growing week by week. Goals and positive results for the club boost his confidence, while regular minutes on the pitch are increasing his fitness and strength.
"I definitely feel like I'm improving from game to game. When you're scoring goals and the team is getting good results, it's much easier to build confidence. The more minutes I play, the fitter and stronger I feel. I hope to keep building my confidence and improving," he concluded.
Last season was a sort of introductory period for him, during which he gained experience and adapted to the demands of senior football. This one should show how much he has taken from all of that. His message to the fans is clear: he believes he hasn't reached his ceiling yet.
"I hope I can be even better. Last season was a good foundation, but when I look back, I see a lot of moments where I could have done more and been better. I hope to put that right this season," he said for Sportske novosti.
