To make his dream a reality, James Abankwah made the decision to trek to and from his midlands home to Dublin to play his underage football, first with Cherry Orchard, before moving on to St Patrick’s Athletic.
It was a sacrifice – doing his homework on the road, dinner from the car, trips across the country to get to training in the capital – but it’s one he knew he needed to make.
A little under two years ago it paid off, as the then 18-year-old put pen to paper on a big move to Italian top-flight side Udinese.
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While he’s had to bide his time in Udine, in the north-east of Italy, with just three league appearances to date either side of a disastrous loan move to Charlton 12 months ago, it’s a fresh start for the defender under a new manager this season.
“I grew up in Longford. Italy is a lot different to Longford and Dublin, it’s a small town. I’ve embraced it, I’ve enjoyed it as much as I can,” said Abankwah, speaking from the Ireland U-21 camp ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Norway in Cork (7.0).
“It was a bit scary [to move at 18] but I wanted to do it. My parents were obviously a bit scared for me as well, but they would support me in anything I want to do. I think it was the right decision for me, just to leave home and grow up a bit because I had been at home my whole life.
“It all started at Cherry Orchard, I would get the bus sometimes and get someone to meet me on the other side. My mum would drop me up too.
“The following year, one of the players’ dads and my mum would take turns [driving to Dublin]. It was mental. I could be doing homework in the car, eating in the car, it was a crazy, crazy journey for me.
“Back then it did feel like sacrifice but it was something I had to do. I knew where I wanted to go and I thought these little things would all help, because the levels in Longford and Dublin, there’s a bit of a difference. A lot of the top players are from Dublin.
“It’s changed now a bit because you have the League of Ireland [underage leagues]. Back then, I didn’t have that. I wanted to make the jump quite early.”
“I haven’t really got the opportunity to do that [reflect on that sacrifice] but I’m sure in one of my games I’ll look back and think I have done well to come this far. Being in Italy has opened my eyes to different things, even playing for Ireland as well. I have been to many countries I never thought I would get to.”
The 20-year-old revealed he was on the brink of being sent out on loan again, but when Kosta Runjaic was appointed in June, the new boss took a liking to Abankwah.
“In the summer I was meant to go on loan but we got a new gaffer, he wanted to take me in and see what I was like. The plan is to stay and try break into the first team,” said the centre-half.
But it’s full focus on international matters this week as Jim Crawford’s men prepare to welcome Norway to Turner’s Cross.
Sitting second in Group A, three points in Cork would secure a play-off for Slovakia 2025, ahead of the final group tie away to Italy on Tuesday.
“It’s history,” said Abankwah, capped five times. “We could be the first U-21s to qualify [for the Euros]. It would be great for everyone in the camp, the gaffer, the backroom staff, players, and the whole country.”