Red Bull New York midfielder Ronald Donkor carries a relaxed demeanor and an easy smile away from the pitch, but once the opening whistle blows, he transforms into a fierce competitor.
Donkor covers every blade of grass across 120 yards with near boundless energy, and rivalry matches like Wednesday’s upcoming contest against the Philadelphia Union bring out a raw emotion from the 21-year-old Ghanaian.
‘I Hate Those Guys’: Donkor Embraces Red Bull New York’s Rivalries
“I would just say I don’t like those guys,” Donkor told South Ward Central when asked about rivalries with the Union, New York City FC and D.C. United. “I just want to win against them every single time we play against them. I hate those guys. I don’t want to talk about them.”
Head coach Michael Bradley has relied on Donkor as a key piece of the midfield, trusting him with 14 starts through 15 MLS matches.
“We count on Ronnie in a big way, as an eight in the center of the field, in terms of his ability to help us play, his press resistance, the way that he can take balls in tight spots, and find the right solutions,” Bradley said earlier this season.
“Obviously, he’s very active,” Bradley continued. “He covers a lot of ground, he helps us in a big way against the ball, in terms of his stepping up, his pressing, his ability to move from inside out when we need it, and so we’re really pleased with his progress. He’s another player that I know still has a lot more to come.”
The 5-foot-8 midfielder has repaid Bradley’s belief with his energetic legs and match-changing moments. On June 2, the club rewarded him with a contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 season and includes an option for the 2030-31 season.
Across 1,183 minutes of MLS play, Donkor has scored one goal and registered four assists. His 24 key passes only trail captain Emil Forsberg (25) for the team lead.
‘We Can’t Do This Without the Fans’: Donkor Credits Red Bull New York Supporters
Regardless of the result when the match is over, Donkor is eager to spend time with the supporters who’ve backed him and his teammates across 90 minutes.
“You know me, I’m a happy guy,” he said. “If we win games, I’m always with the fans. Even if we lose the games, sometimes I’m mad, but they’ve been with us.”
Donkor has a particular appreciation for the diehard supporters who show up every weekend and stand in the South Ward supporters section and follow the club on the road to venues like Chester, Pennsylvania’s Subaru Park.
“We can’t even do this without the fans,” he explained. “The fans, they’ve been there for us every single time. Even if things are not going well, the way they carry us, the way they help us on the pitch, it’s been really good.”
Wednesday’s match against the Union will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. It’s been a while since the Red Bulls last played on May 23rd, when they earned a 2-1 road victory over Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park.
A win in Chester would make it four wins out of five and stretch Red Bull New York’s undefeated streak to five consecutive matches.
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