By Aime Rutayisire, Sports Editor
A former Newman soccer player has earned a spot on a professional soccer team.
Bilal Olayiwola, who last year was a graduate student at Neman and a member of the soccer team, is now playing for the United Arab Emirates second division team, Al Rams Football Club.
Olayiwola, who was a striker for Newman, flew overseas Jan. 14 after being recommended to the national team coach by his older brother, Rodney Strasser, who once played for AC Milan.
After training with the national team for several weeks and performing well in a friendly match, Olayiwola said, he was invited to a trial with a club in Dubai. Within two weeks of trials, he secured a six-month contract, which will last until the end of the season. His contract has a player option, which means he can extend it if he chooses.
“It’s a great opportunity because a lot of the kids my age obviously would want to be here, so I’m grateful,” Olayiwola said.
Olayiwola said that he owed his recent successes to Newman graduate assistant soccer coach Victor Machado. Olayiwola, who is from Freetown, Sierra Leone, in Africa, said that when he was at Newman, Machado urged him to work as hard as possible to get to where he is now.
“He always just pushed me to believe in myself,” said Olayiwola, who attended Neman for one semester, graduating last spring.
He played 11 games last year, starting in seven. He had one assist and one shot during 551 minutes of play.
His daily routine with AI Rams Club includes early practices, weight lifting and recovery, with gamedays including massages and film sessions, he said.
Olayiwola said he is soaking in the new lifestyle.
“I’m living my dream and doing what I love,” he said. “I wake up to play football.”
PHOTO: Courtesy
