The American dream
South African youngsters thriving in the USA
Seen as a retirement home for the game’s greatest stars to receive one last golden paycheque, Major League Soccer – and football in the United States in general – has never been regarded as a serious world powerhouse. Nevertheless, a trickle of young South African talent is enjoying the benefits of the resource-rich nation as they look to build a career in the land of plenty.
Mention the word “football” in the presence of Americans, and you’re bound to have to doubletake, explaining yourself as a fan of “soccer” rather than their fake rugby-equivalent. Men’s football in the USA has yet to reach the international heights of other sporting codes such as basketball or baseball, or that of the senior national women’s team, who are three-time World Cup champions. The men’s team’s best Mundial finish was third – in the first ever world showpiece in 1930 – and they are currently ranked outside the top 20 countries in the world. A glance at the history books, however, reveals a good handful of notable South African footballers who crossed the Atlantic to ply their trade in North America (seeside-bar). Recently joining those names is promising future talent Lindo Mfeka of San Jose Earthquakes, currently the only South African registered in any of the 22 teams in the MLS. The KwaZulu-Natal born youngster was first spotted while playing for Inanda-based SAB League club Junior Aces, and was called up in 2009 for a South African Under-17 friendly against neighbours Lesotho. Thereafter, through the assistance of the Johannesburgbased Umhlaba Vision Foundation, Mfeka was given the opportunity to study in America while continuing his number one passion: playing football.
But it was a challenging switch for the young South African. “The transition from back home to here was not easy,” he tells KICK OFF from California. “I struggled with the language, I struggled fitting in with everyone, I did not have a lot of friends, I missed my family back home, school was not easy, the food was different and the culture shock was there as well. But it was all worth it in the end.” Overcoming his challenges off the pitch with the help of his caring host parents, Mfeka was able to shine on the field for Kentucky-based club Javanon 94, helping them win the Kentucky State Championship three times and ending 2012 as the leading goal scorer in the Under-18 US Soccer National League. Mfeka then enrolled for a degree in Communications at the University of South Florida, where he solidified himself as a mainstay in the university’s soccer team, starting all 21 games of his first season in his new surroundings, scoring five goals and providing four assists. Described as “one of the most spirited attacking players in the American Athletic Conference”, Mfeka went on to make 72 appearances across his fouryear stay at South Florida, netting 16 goals with 18 assists to boot, and was selected for the American Athletic All Conference First Team on three separate occasions. Mfeka’s stellar performances earned him a spot in the annual “combine” – a five-day training camp where 80 of the best college footballers from across America assemble, each hand-picked over the season by Major League Soccer scouts. The last day is “draft day”, where representatives from each MLS team are able to select players to join their first-team squads for the season. Mfeka was the 28th pick, and was scooped up by two-time MLS Cup winners San Jose Earthquakes. “I was excited to be selected and continue pursuing my childhood dream,” the attacking midfielder says. “It was a dream come true.”
It was not a done-deal immediately
though, as Mfeka had to prove himself in pre-season before being handed a contract, with fellow pick Olmes Garcia, who was selected as a re-entry draft, being released by the Quakes. Logistical clearance issues resulted in a delayed registration for the South African, yet he was finally signed, and has so far enjoyed training with the first team. “I’m settling in pretty [well],” he says. “The facilities are awesome, unbelievably great. I have everything anyone could ask for and am thankful for that because I know many people don’t have what I have. “I really like San Jose, the weather is beautiful, and there’s tons of things to do outside of soccer.” Mfeka is keeping grounded despite his well-earned breakthrough to the American top-flight, and knows there’s plenty of hard work ahead of him. “For now, I just want to start playing regularly, enjoy myself and have a long career,” the 23-year-old says. “I’m still young and have so much room to learn even more. I just started playing professionally, and still have to show what I can do on a professional level.” Although not seen as the ultimate destination for many young South African footballers, Mfeka has thrived in the land of Stars and Stripes, and looks set on making a name for himself and fulfilling his undoubted potential abroad. “The USA gets better every day, I love it here,” he says. “I don’t regret anything about coming here; if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am super glad I moved here when I did, it’s been nothing but the best.”
At the University of Rhode Island,
three other South Africans are looking to follow in Mfeka’s footsteps, working their way through the American college system in the hope of one day turning
“THE USA GETS BETTER EVERY DAY, I LOVE IT HERE.”
professional. Dante Lamb, Wesley Matthews and Carlo Davids were all given the opportunity to study in the USA while continuing their dream of playing football after being taken abroad in 2013 through a contact at club side Berea Albion. It was initially a daunting move for Lamb, a Fish Hoek-born midfielder and former Old Mutual Academy product, but it gave him the opportunity to balance education with sport while escaping the hardships of the area in which he grew up. “Coming to the USA was a really difficult decision at first as I really wanted to go pro,” he says. “My dad wanted me to further my studies, so coming to the USA gave me the opportunity to do both. “I definitely think I’m better off right now in comparison to where I was. My neighbourhood can be a tough place, there is always gang violence.” At Rhode Island, the South African trio have world-class facilities at their disposal, including state-of-the-art pitches, a new gym and professional coaches, while playing with and against talented players from across the globe in front of crowds that put a few Premier Soccer League attendance figures to shame. “Playing football in the USA is very competitive and physical,” says Lamb, who appeared in all 20 matches last season. “The quality is really high. I have teammates that come from some of the world’s top academies like Norwich, Schalke and Borussia Dortmund. “Our coach is from Northern Ireland and has a Uefa license. Crowd attendance for our games against our rivals can reach up to 3 000 people.” Rhode Island co-captain Matthews, born and schooled in Mafikeng, was
fortunate to receive a scholarship, and although appreciating the opportunity to further his studies while playing football at a decent level, he admits it’s no easy task. “As a scholarship player, you are expected to maintain a certain grade, 3.0 in my case – that’s about an 85-percent average in South Africa,” the defender says. Matthews, who made 52 consecutive starts for his side and was named in the 2014 Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team, notes the difference in football styles between South Africa and America: “The soccer over here is a lot more physical compared to back home where it’s a lot more tactical, getting the ball down and playing. A lot of teams are adopting this approach these days over here though.” Both Matthews and Lamb say they have thoroughly enjoyed both on and off-the-field experiences across their four-year stay in the States, and encourage South Africans to not jump to conclusions too quickly regarding their perception of soccer in the USA. “I think South Africans have the perception that the MLS is too weak,” Lamb says. “Also, a lot of South African players don’t broaden their horizons. I honestly feel that South African players are too comfortable playing in the PSL, especially because of the big contracts they get. Personally I’d love to break into the MLS, but it’s really tough. “I’m glad I came across to the US, as I’ve learned a lot on and off the field. It has helped me grow as a person.” For now, only Mfeka is flying the South African flag in the MLS, but with the college system providing a holistic and beneficial experience for many of his compatriots, Mzansi might soon have a few more representatives in the USA’s top-flight.