FFA Cup wonderkid sets sights on the A-League
From the day he could walk Danny Choi has been kicking a football, but even he was taken back when he scored from inside his own half in Blacktown City's 6-2 win over Sydney United on Wednesday.
Choi's stunner made him an overnight sensation, and after Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata tweeted his admiration, the aspiring professional hopes other A-league clubs took notice.
“I was jogging into position for a counter attack and the ball just popped up in front of me, I looked up and saw the keeper (Thomas Manos) off his line and just went for it,” Choi said.
“As soon as I hit it I saw it was on target and just leaned over to see if it was going in and, before I knew it I saw the net shaking.”
The Demons attacker migrated to Australia with his family from South Korea when he was nine, and has dreamed of carving out a career as a professional footballer ever since.
“For every footballer, the goal is to play professionally. My goal is to play at any professional level whether that’s in the A-League or overseas.”
Choi’s love for the game comes from his father, and his path to football was paved years before he was born.
“My dad loves football, more than me. When he was young he used to say ‘If I ever have a boy, he is going to play football.’ From the day I could start walking I started kicking a ball.”
In 2013, Choi spent three years with K-League side Daejeon Citizen FC’s Youth Academy, which he said took his game to the next level.
“I had a chance to train with the first team when they came to Australia for pre-season and the head coach at the time offered me to come back to Korea and play for the Youth team. It was a huge step in my career.”
With a strict foreign quota, it can be difficult for foreign players to land an A-League contract, but Choi hopes that will change when he finalises his painstaking process to become an Australian citizen.
“My citizenship should be finalised in a few months at the latest. It’s something I have been trying to do for a long time, it’s been eight or nine years.”
One player who has seen Choi’s exploits first hand is Parramatta FC defender Josh Gersbach, who played against Choi in the NSW Premier League.
“He is definitely one of the best players outside of the A-League. He’s fast, technical and has a wicked left-foot cross,” Gersbach said.
“I think he probably deserves his chance now at a higher level and just may get it if he keeps performing in the FFA Cup and NPL.”
For now, Choi has his eye on completing an FFA Cup fairytale as he hopes Blacktown City can become the first side outside the A-League to win the tournament.
“If we play our football and turn up on our night we can match any team.” he said.
