Aljofree ‘over the moon’ with senior debut

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Aljofree ‘over the moon’ with senior debut

Monday 07 October 2024 15:15

Young Manchester United defender Sonny Aljofree is “buzzing” after making his first appearance in senior football with loan club Accrington Stanley.

The 19-year-old started in United’s pre-Academy and was part of the squad that won our 11th FA Youth Cup in May 2022, starring alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho in front of a record-breaking 67,000-strong Old Trafford crowd for the final.

Aljofree spent time with Altrincham on loan last season, but didn’t make a competitive appearance for the Robins before returning to United, where he was involved in our pre-season fixtures against Rosenborg and Rangers.

His first senior bow came on Saturday as he helped League Two side Accrington Stanley to a vital home victory over Morecambe.

“[I’m] over the moon,” Aljofree told Stanley’s club media.

🎥 “Over the moon, it’s been something that I’ve worked for my whole life.”

Sonny’s reaction on the @SkyBetLeagueTwo derby against @MorecambeFC.

— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) October 5, 2024
“It’s been something that I’ve worked for for my whole life and for it finally to happen, I’m buzzing. Thanks to the manager for trusting in me and giving me the opportunity.

“I’m itching to play football every day. Football is what I love, it’s my passion. But circumstances happen, the manager picks his team, now I’ve finally got my chance [and] we’ve got the three points so I’m happy to help the team in my own little way.

“Obviously I got a little butterflies [before the game] but no real nerves because I’ve been training with them [my teammates] every day. I know what abilities the players have and I trust them. You’ve seen it there, everyone stuck to their task and it came off. It’s just unfortunate we conceded because I’d have liked that clean sheet as well!”

Aljofree signed a new long-term contract at United before heading out on loan.

Stanley led 2-0 going into the closing stages and Aljofree was asked how he and his teammates saw the game out despite conceding one from an 86th-minute Morecambe free-kick.

“I think it’s just talking to each other on the pitch,” he explained.

“It makes you think more clearly. That’s one of my characteristics. I like to lead. I was captain for the Under-21s, always captain pretty much throughout my Academy journey. One of my attributes is talking, so I want to bring that on to the pitch and bring that to the lads.”

The day was particularly special as the majority of Sonny’s family were in attendance at the Wham Stadium, including father Hasney, a former professional footballer and now Head of Coach Education & Development at the Singapore FA.

“It’s unbelievable because he moved to Singapore about two months ago now and I thought he might miss my debut,” Sonny reflected.

“That he was here for my debut was an unbelievable feeling. My mum and my dad have been the biggest supporters in my life. My whole family, pretty much, was here so I just know I’ve got that behind me and that support.

“I think I’ll get all the well-dones off them and then it’ll be my dad after the game where we’ll think ‘yeah you could have done that better’. But, like I said, it’s my debut, it’s just about getting a good performance out, showing what I can do and after the game, we’ve won the game, now I can work on stuff that I needed to do better in the game.”

Congratulations, Sonny, and good luck for the appearances to come!

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Monday 07 October 2024 15:15