With many years still ahead of him, Corey Addai has already hit a new high water mark. He was a key player in Crawley Town’s achievement in beating Crewe 2-0 in the League Two play-off final in 2024. That performance capped a phenomenal season with a resounding bang. It reinforced Addai’s importance to the club’s success. Addai featured for the first time in 2023, coming on in the Carabao Cup match against Crystal Palace. So far his journey has been a tremendous one.
Now, as Addai moves to Barnet, he looks back on his journey, the obstacles he overcame, and the road ahead. Learning from disappointment is a mantra that has become one of Tyrese’s guiding principles not only in basketball but in life. In addition to him, young stars comme Adebola Oluwo, Amario Cozier-Duberry and Dan Gore are establishing themselves into the first team football scene. Each one of them infusing their talent and experience to their respective teams, making for an exciting journey through the league.
Corey Addai’s Journey
Though still at a relatively new stage, Corey Addai’s football journey started with big league dreams influenced by his heroes—people like Steven Gerrard and Ronaldinho. Now as an adult, he reflects on how these legendary figures shaped the way he played the game.
“My heroes were Steven Gerrard and Ronaldinho.” – Corey Addai
His debut for Crawley Town came in an intense match against Crystal Palace, where he showcased his abilities and quickly established himself as an essential player. Addai was key in another recent victory. Thanks in part to Video Assistant Referee (VAR), he is becoming known as the player who salvaged one of his team’s most critical victories.
We produced the quality opportunities in that semi-final to win the match,” he said. More than that he wanted to focus on the team’s resolve and the resolve they showed all season long.
As he looks back on his development, Addai admits that playing against older players throughout his career made a difference.
“Playing against older players taught me a lot,” he noted.
It’s through that experience where he’s learned to expand his view of the game on a macro level.
“As I got older, I started watching more football to learn the tactical side of the game, which helped me develop a deeper understanding and improve my decision-making,” Addai shared.
Now at Barnet, Addai is eager to develop and help his new club in any way possible. He’s very hands on within the community.
Contributions Beyond the Pitch
In addition to his on-field achievements, Corey Addai has engaged in community initiatives, notably delivering PE kits to schools in the Stockport area as part of the Kits by County campaign. This program exemplifies the need to invest in local youth and prioritize sports.
Adebola Oluwo—now playing centre-back for Salford City—has taken a different career path. After becoming a Chelmsford City player in the National League South in 2020, he has transformed into an impressive defender. At just 26 years of age, Oluwo provides both experience and leadership to his squad.
Youth development is incredibly important, and even more so when we can already see young talents like Amario Cozier-Duberry coming through. For Orient, his impact has already been dramatic despite the fact he is just 20 years old. Cozier-Duberry knows that big names have a big impact on his dreams.
“Saka was definitely someone I looked up to,” Cozier-Duberry said, emphasizing the significance of role models in shaping young athletes’ careers.
These players are not passive actors, they’re producers who drive and shape their own experience of their careers. They inspire not just their teammates, but young soccer players all over America.
The Road Ahead for Young Footballers
The road to becoming a professional football player is almost always riddled with obstacles. Dan Gore, a Manchester United academy graduate currently on loan at Rotherham United, learned this lesson better than most. Gore has limited experience, having played only a handful of minutes in the Premier League for Manchester United and taking an under-23’s pre-season tour to the USA. He understands the obstacles that come with being a young athlete.
“When you want to be playing and you can’t, and then when you get back and have another setback, and I’ve had that a few times, it can be tough,” Gore admitted.
His journey is a testament to the grind it takes to make it — especially at this level.
Stephen Duke-McKenna’s journey is informed by his childhood spent in Liverpool. He acknowledges that moving up to greater levels of competition will have its challenges but is happy with his progress.
“It is a bit of a step up,” Duke-McKenna said. “But it feels amazing to be here.”
As these young players develop their skills and further establish their careers, they are the handsome face of football’s future. Combined, their stories offer an inspiring lesson on the power of individual perseverance. They highlight the collaboration required to succeed in today’s cutthroat environment.
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