INTERVIEW: Red Bull Salzburg starlet David Atanga says his passion for football has taken him from the walking streets of Bolgatanga to Champions League dream

The 2015 Ghana U20 starlet has just completed a recovery training session at Red Bull Salzburg's ultra-modern academy complex after netting a double to propel Liefering in the Austrian second-tier league.

The prodigious attacking midfielder sits down to have a chat with GHANAsoccernet.com's El Akyereko, discussing issues ranging from club growth and career development.

Atanga beams with radiant smiles when he is asked about his free-scoring form for Oscar Garcia's academy boys. Among the Ghanaian quartet at Liefering the Bolgatanta-born remains the most experienced player even at a tender age of 19.

His smiles gradually diminishes into a look of seriousness when he discusses combining midfield play with the job of scoring goals. "The season [hasn't been] easy with me so far but I thank God that I'm still in my good form I was a first 11 player at the beginning of the season but later on I didn't know why the coach didn't use me again. So I didn't want to be always at the bench and not playing 90 minutes at the age of 19. Do I think its wise to play with the second team if I'm not playing with the first team. Yes!"

But sometimes the story isn't all rosy. Atanga had begun the season with Red Bull Salzburg's first team squad and enjoyed Uefa Champions League football as an 18-year-old. But the exit of Peter Zeidler meant change of fortunes and drop the reserves.  "I want to get more playing time just like the beginning of the season with the first team. So this makes me more hungry to be the best as I was yesterday."

The brace he scored against Austria Klagenfurt was the second time he had scored more goals in a game and he explains scoring is part of his game.

"Goals scoring is every player wish so if I get a chance I have to score just like any other player. But I play offensive right striker or secondary striker. So I'm often in the goal area."

He breaks into laughter when the question of Raphael Dwamena and Lawrence Ati-zigi comes to mind. Atanga plays along the Ghana youth goalkeeper and his Ghanaian compatriot striker Dwamena. The trio have been drinking from the advice of experienced Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah who has joined them at the second-tier side following his return from injury.

"We have a good cohesion and we motivate each other to help us progress in our development but Vorsah is one of the very good people I have ever met. He gives us the experience in football. What we will expect and the difficulties in the game. So he is very important to us."

The midfielder also remembers the adrenaline rush and the excitement he felt playing for Ghana  at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup.

"It was a great feeling to represent your country at that level. So it was a great experience for me and I want to continue playing for Ghana at different levels."

His mind drifts back into the past when he was a nine-year-old boy in the Ghanaian town of Bolgatanta where he started pursuing his passion for football which landed him in Red Bull Academy.

"I started playing just for fun because I just loved to play football. And when I was 9 years someone from Bolga call Salifu Fatawu known as Kiyoyo picked me from my Dad in my village and I started staying with him schooling and playing as well. So from there I tuned my mind that if I'm serious I can be a great player like my role model.

So I gave my best everyday and played very hard. The difficult challenge was I couldn't concentrate fully in school and I got sometime I had to join Red Bull Ghana and nobody from my family was in support of it because I was in SHS 2. But I could also continue my education in the academy. But my father gave me opportunity to choose what I wanted."

Across just the Austria border is neighbouring Germany where Atanga role model  - Arjen Robben plays for Bayern Munich. The Dutch master who combines scathing runs with pure football artistry is the player the youngster is seeking to emulate.

"Arjen Robben is my idol in football. I want to play like him and he is the best player in the world according to me. I think I share some of his qualities and play his style of football."

He has dreams of playing for Ghana at the World Cup and winning trophies. "I want to win trophies at both club and national teams and I also dream to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world one day."

By El Akyereko
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial