Kofi Balmer, the Northern Irish centre-back for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell, has been making headlines, not just for his performances on the pitch but also for his unique name.
Balmer, who has been capped by Northern Ireland up to under-21 level, was reportedly named after former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
While the name Kofi is traditionally given to boys born on a Friday in Ghana, Balmer has no Ghanaian roots and was, amusingly, born on a Tuesday.
After joining Motherwell from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024, Balmer finally made his Premiership debut in January 2025. Coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over St Mirren after Dan Casey’s red card, Balmer hopes to capitalise on the opportunity.
“You always have to be ready because you never know when you’re going to get your opportunity,” he said. “For me, it was not to lose my head, not to sort of throw the toys out of the pram. I just had to be patient.”
Reflecting on his long-awaited chance, Balmer added: “Saturday probably came quicker than I expected, but at the same time, I’d done all my preparations, and I was ready to come on and do the job that I had to do. It was good. It was long-awaited. I had to be patient for it, and thankfully it happened.”
Balmer is now determined to make the most of his opportunities: “Now it’s just up to me to perform and do well in training to get a certain spot and hopefully keep it. When you get the shirt, you’re always fighting for a position, and the gaffer says if you get the shirt, you have to play well to keep it. That’s all on me. I have to keep concentration and try to perform the best I can.”
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has expressed confidence in Balmer’s abilities and potential. “I had a conversation with Kofi a couple of weeks ago. It’s always important to acknowledge how well people are performing around training sessions when they are not necessarily getting on the pitch. And he has been training really well.
“We knew we were bringing in a good player anyway. He came with a good pedigree and decent match experience for his age, and he has always been one we feel can grow and flourish here.”
Balmer’s career began at Ballymena United, where he debuted in the NIFL Premiership at just 16 years old. Over four seasons, he gained valuable experience, winning the Ulster Young Footballer of the Year for the 2018–19 season before moving to Larne in 2021.
After turning professional, he won the County Antrim Shield in 2022, earning a move to Crystal Palace. Loan spells at Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon followed before he joined Motherwell in 2024.
As he continues to establish himself at Motherwell, Balmer’s story remains as intriguing off the pitch as it is on it, thanks to his unique name and the promise he brings to the footballing world.