Men’s soccer embraces international heritage amongst success

KYLE SCHECK
PHOTOGRAPHER

TY SLATER
SPORTS WRITER

9/30/2024

The Alma College Men’s Soccer team has had an unbeaten streak of seven games, putting their record at 7-2-1. Part of the successful team’s makeup is the collection of seven international students who come from Peru, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Colombia, Vietnam and Spain. 

In watching the games, the togetherness of the team and the value placed on each player is apparent. These are important aspects of the team’s culture and have contributed to the team’s overall success.

“[An] important step [in the recruiting process] is to ensure the character of the player we are bringing in fits with the culture of the team that we have. Soccer/Football is the world’s sport, and it’s fantastic to be able to have such a diverse group of players who bring so many different elements, backgrounds and talents to the team from all over the world, both foreign and domestic,” said Alister Newby, Head Coach of Alma College Men’s Soccer. 

“I realized that it was more of a family than a team. The team welcomed me incredibly and everyone was very kind to me. Now that I am a junior, I think I made the right decision in choosing Alma College and I wouldn’t change my teammates for anything in the world,” said Leandro Vargas (’26), goalkeeper from Lima, Peru, who has started 17 games for the Scots and recorded 72 saves so far during his time at Alma College.

“During the recruitment process and in my early days here, not only my coaches but also the athletic staff reached out to let me know that I would be valued here. That personal touch stuck with me, unlike at most other colleges, and I believe it plays a key role in attracting international students who may be unfamiliar with the area,” said Tatenda Mukudu (’26), midfielder from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, who has started 21 games and recorded two goals and two assists so far this season.

“I chose Alma because it allows me to pursue my degree while playing soccer. The team here is fantastic. Everyone is so welcoming, and we treat each other like brothers, always ready to help one another,” said Sameer Baig (’28), midfielder from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, who has played 223 minutes thus far for the Scots.

“I must admit that Coach Alister was a great influence in my decision because when I talked to him, he really showed empathy, humanity, and respect. Those were the values that I was looking for in my college. Whenever you go to the campus, you find people that are kind and respectful that help you in whatever you need. They make you feel at home and for me being an international student, this feeling is very special,” said Felipe Soto (’28), midfielder from Bogota, Colombia, who has one goal and one assist so far.

“About my teammates, they help me a lot, and we want to be better every day, so everyone is working hard. I love this team, and we will qualify in NCAA this year as our goal from the start of the season,” said Nhan Hoang (’28), defender from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, who has also played 232 minutes this year for Alma.

The environment that Coach Newby and Mokhles Elsysy, assistant Alma College Men’s Soccer coach, built has made a large impact on the players in the program. This is a shout out to them as well as the players on the team for being positive individuals and welcoming their teammates to create strong team chemistry.