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Sadick Adams is one of the most promising young players in world football. Starting his football career in Ghana, he represented his country in the 2007 under 17 world cup, where he helped the team reach the semi finals, losing out only to Spain.
His brilliant performances in the tournament alerted a host of European clubs to come calling for his services. He eventually signed for Atletico Madrid. However some contractual technicalities regretably ensured that this move did not go through as smoothly as expected.
soccerhene.com caught up with Adams to talk about his career past, present and future. soccerhene: Can you tell us a bit about yourself. Also where and how you started playing soccer? Adams: ok first I was born in Tamale but was brought up by Mr and Mrs Adams in Sunyani. So my football career started in Sunyani where I was playing for a colts team called Allah Koso. I also played for my school.
As a result, I took part in primary school games where I was selected to play for the district team and where I was made captain. We won the district tournament. From here, I was selected to play for the regional team. In 2001 we took part in a regional tournament. At the time I was eleven years old.
I ended up as leading scorer in the tournament and was also voted man of the match on five occasions. An interesting fact here is that most of our players were dropped because they were overage. This left us with 10 outfield players plus a goalkeeper. We therefore took part in the tournament without any substitutes. What is more interesting is that we managed to reach the semi finals where we faced the Central region. We played this game without our captain who had received three yellow cards previously. Consequently, we played the semi finals, where I captained the side, with nine outfield players. Against all the odds we still won the game 3:0. I scored two of the goals to send us to the final where we played the Ashanti region.
In the final, the game was tied till the ninetieth minute. I received the ball on the edge of the box, sent in a shot and scored the winning goal. We won the tournament!
After the games, I went back to school. I then received a letter from the Ajax academy in Obuasi inviting me for a justify your inclusion trial. I was amongst about a thousand hopefuls who took part in the trials. At the end of it all, I was one of a few handfuls chosen. The academy is where I would say I really started to learn about the game. The European coaches there taught me and the likes of MUBARAK WAKASO,OPARE,OPOKU AGYEMAN,GLADSON AWAKO, a lot.
As you can imagine, being so young we were not given any first team opportunities. We however took part in the S.S.S Milo games in Kumasi. Again I emerged goal king. I caught the eye of a first division club called Gold Stars. They were in need of a striker, so I was told to go help them out. Unfortunately, it didn't work out and I went back to Obuasi where I was given the chance to train with the first team.
soccerhene: You participated in the under 17 world cup in 2007, can you tell us how you were spotted and selected for that tournament?
Adams: Ok, so after going back to Obuasi, I was then registered as a league player and played for the first team in the Macufe tournament in South Africa. In our first league game after getting back to Obuasi, we faced Feyenoord. Coach Duncan named a surprising starting eleven which included myself and Opare. At this point most people were saying we were inexperienced and too young to play. We won the match 4:1 with me scoring the fourth.
Now a word about coach Duncan. He helped me a lot. I won't say he's the only coach who has helped me, but he's the one who gave me the opportunity to play. He gave me a lot of confidence and advice and I thank him a lot.
From here we were all chosen for the national under 17. However, we were prevented from playing because they stated that once you were playing premier league soccer you would not be allowed to play for the under 17. This was very upsetting since every player dreams of playing for his nation. Coach Duncan advised us to forget about the under 17's and concentrate on playing league football. We then took part in a champions league game in Equatorial Guinea where I played for eighty five minutes. On our return, we were called into the under 17 team. The rest is history.
soccerhene: Did you always play as a striker? Adams: No, from a very young age I was always a midfielder. My striking abilities were spotted whilst developing at the academies. It was at the academy that I was transformed into a striker.
soccerhene: Losing out to Spain in the semi finals of the under 17 world cup after extra time must have been devastating. How did you cope with it? Adams: I was on the bench, after being substituted, when Spain scored their winner. I was surprised when the coach subbed me since I already had two yellow cards, meaning I would not be available for the final, should we get there, nor the third/fourth place game. However I was subbed after I scored the equalizing goal. I just thought he is the coach and he knows what he is doing.
soccerhene: You emerged from that tournament as one of the hottest young talents in world football. How have you managed to keep your feet on the ground? Adams: Yes I know, I was chosen as the best young player. I am very proud and still working hard to live up to that accolade. The only problem here is my issue with Fifa. Today, they will say this, tomorrow another thing, it's making me sick. However I know everything will be alright.
soccerhene: Without going into details about your recent club predicaments, how have you managed to stay focused on doing your job? Adams: On doing my job? I have to work hard and stop unnecessary things and also I need help and prayers from all Ghanaians.
soccerhene: Ghana's squad for the under 20 world cup is a strong one, though for one reason or the other you were not selected. Tell us a bit about that. Adams: It was not that I was not selected. It was a little misunderstanding. Even up to now it's not clear to me. I was told FIFA sent a letter to the GFA but up to now no one has given me a copy of the letter. Even my club said they have no letter like that. It is true that I was banned ,but it only applied to my current club, not with the national team. So I was very confused. All the same Ghana has a strong team and I think they can lift the trophy even without me. I know they will miss me and I will also miss them but they can still do it without me. I pray that they win the tournament.
soccerhene: How highly do you rate this current bunch of young stars? Adams: How higly? Ok it's a strong team and they need to be maintained as a unit. However, I dont think they will maintain them. After the under 17 world cup, people said the squad should be maintained but how many of them are in the under 20 team. However, they still look strong to me and I will say some should even play in the senior national team after the world cup.
soccerhene: On a personal goal, how eager are you to be part of the senior national team, the Black Stars. Is the world cup an aim for you? Adams: It's my dream to play for the senior national team. I am still working hard to get to that level. I know I will surely get there by his grace. That will be the happiest day of my life. Although I have worn the jersey before, I am eager to wear the senior national team jersey, I am refering to that number 9 jersey!
What I will finally say is that Ghanaians shouldn't worry because God has his own way of doing things. Even though they did not see me in the under 20 world cup, Insha Allah I know they will see me in South Africa. Greetings to all.
Sadick Adams is a rare talent indeed. Quick and fearless in front of goal, one hopes his huge potential will be fulfilled. We wish Adams the very best of luck in his career.
Interview conducted by Michael Dadzie © soccerhene |
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