{"id":1950,"date":"2018-12-15T18:33:21","date_gmt":"2018-12-15T15:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=1950"},"modified":"2018-12-15T18:33:21","modified_gmt":"2018-12-15T15:33:21","slug":"three-edsel-seniors-to-play-soccer-in-d1-colleges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/three-edsel-seniors-to-play-soccer-in-d1-colleges\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Edsel seniors to play soccer in D1 Colleges"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Adel Mozip<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Yemeni American News<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember the names: Hammam Nasser, Sanad Yahya, and Ali Nasser. The three (trio) Edsel Ford High School seniors on their route to play soccer for Division 1 universities.\u00a0 Sanad and Ali who coincidentally were born on the same day (Ali argues he\u2019s hours older) have a friendship story to tell.
\nAll three started at Salina Elementary and began playing soccer at a young age. For Hammam, his family is heavily involved in soccer where they lead the grassroots soccer organization \u201cMichigan Yemen Sports Association – MYSA\u201d. Their fathers pushed them to be involved in soccer because it was a passion for theirs as well.
\nAli Nasser tells the Yemeni American News \u201cMy dad came from a big family. He has 14 siblings. My dad was a major player in Lebanon but had to leave soccer because of his father\u2019s illness. He gave up his dream of becoming a professional player but still wants to achieve his dream by me becoming a professional player.\u201d
\nSanad also thanks his father for inspiring him to be a soccer dreamer. He attributes his love for the beautiful game because of his father. \u201cMy father inspired me. Since 5, I\u2019ve been going to soccer games, and ever since I started playing it, I fell in love with it, and I can\u2019t see my future without it.\u201d
\nThe bar is higher for Hammam though. He tells the Yemeni American News \u201cI came from a sports family. Being the fact that I am from a known family for sports it meant that I have to always do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

From humble beginnings to prime youth academies:<\/strong>
\nOn his beginnings, Sanad says \u201cI started playing in my community and my father noticed that I was standing out. I was recruited by Waza FC. I remember the State Cup in 2015, I scored the winning goal in the quarterfinals and semifinals. We lost the State Champions for the U-15 but I was invited to Vardar Academy.\u201d
\nAli began with Dearborn Mustangs (U8). \u201cWhen AC Milan came to Michigan, they hosted a camp and picked 3 to go Italy. I was lucky to be one of those 3. I played with AC Milan Academy and got called back in the following summer. The coaches saw the talent in me. I got a camp invitation from the U.S. National team at Michigan State University. I stayed with Vardar U-14 and U-15.\u201d
\nSimilarly, Hammam started playing with MYSA at 5 years old. He tells the Yemeni American News \u201cI played with them till I was U-11. I was then recruited by Waza at age 12. With the U-14, we made it to the State\u2019s semi-final. The biggest accomplishment for me as the team is a tournament we won was in Chicago in 2014 because it was a critical point for the team to go back to winning. In 2015, I was recruited by Vardar Academy and got accepted to their U15 academy.\u201d Hamam was recruited by the Portland Timberlands Youth Team to play for the Adidas Generation Cup as well as a World tournament representing the U.S. in Sweden in 2016.
\nVardar is one of the two professional soccer academies in Michigan affiliated with Roma FC. Sanad was invited to open training and practices and joined the team in 2016.
\nAll three players are longing for the moment to be professional players. Ali says \u201cthat\u2019s our dream, we are still going to do well in academics, but we have not come this far to just play college football. We\u2019re in it for the pros!\u201d<\/p>\n

Balancing soccer and school:<\/strong>
\nOn juggling school work and soccer, all three mentioned on how to difficult it is to manage time. They also mentioned on how they also work to help their families with the academy\u2019s expenses. Ali tells the Yemeni American News \u201cIt\u2019s very difficult. Our schedules are on the clock. I also work five days a week. I leave school at 12:17. I get to work at 1:17 and then soccer practice at 8.\u201d
\nSanad mentions that his ultimate goal of becoming a professional player is what keeps him going saying \u201cthere are moments where you\u2019re dead tired but you still have to stay on top and keep the end goal in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Challenges<\/strong>
\nAsking each player on their challenges, Sanad said \u201cit\u2019s patience, there were moments where I was thinking about giving up. But I always go back and reflect with God. I went through a phase where I didn\u2019t play, but that didn\u2019t stop me. I kept my faith in God and then in myself.\u201d
\nAli\u2019s challenge was seeing his parents part ways but he\u2019s finally glad that they\u2019re great at co-parenting.
\nOther challenges the trio mentioned they face is the backlash they get from others. Sanad explains, \u201csome people think that we have it easy. They mistake our passion for arrogance. I hate losing; when people see me yelling or shouting on the field, it\u2019s because of my passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difference Makers<\/strong>
\nAsking the trio on whom has made a huge difference in their journeys to become a prospect college soccer players. Ali said \u201cWithout the help of my father, I am beyond thankful to him and his dedication. I am blessed to have a father like mine. If it wasn\u2019t for him, nothing would be possible.\u201d
\nSanad and Hammam agreed. They both mentioned if it wasn\u2019t for their families, they would not be this far.\u201d Sanad and Hammam credit the MYSA organization for supporting and encouraging them.
\nSanad tells us \u201ceveryone around has played their role. Even the people who didn\u2019t support me played a role in me doing more than what\u2019s expected so I can prove them wrong. Hammam\u2019s dad is always there to help us, driving us all the time to practices for the academy..\u201d<\/p>\n

Community Support:<\/strong>
\nHammam\u2019s father, Mr. Mohamed Nasser is no stranger to the soccer community in metro Detroit. He founded MYSA and organized many tournaments and programs for the youth since 2003. When asking him on his son\u2019s accomplishment, he tells us \u201cWe might be asking him a lot from him [Hammam] in not only doing well on the field but also with school work. However, I think it\u2019s important to challenge. I want our children to also give back to the community.\u201d
\nMr. Nasser through MYSA has been pushing youth to get them to the next level of entering academies but stresses that parents need to be supportive on many fronts including time and money.<\/p>\n

Favorite Players and Role Model in Soccer:<\/strong>
\nSanad: Maradona
\nAli: Zidane
\nHammam: Messi
\nSanad and Ali are heading to Marshall University in West Virginia to study engineering while playing for their soccer game while Hammam will be a Butler striker in Indiana.<\/p>\n

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