Opare’s journey from Ghana to the MLS

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Ben P 12 years ago

Kofi,
Well done. I am praying for you. I see an MLS player. With God, all things are possible. Keep the Faith.
Go Blues!

Kofi,
Well done. I am praying for you. I see an MLS player. With God, all things are possible. Keep the Faith.
Go Blues!
K Philly 12 years ago

Student Athlete in the USA

I wish there were some details of what Opare studied at Michigan, a prestigious research university. As a Ghanaian child, I hope Opare would not be caught up in the usual Athletic/student hype, w ...
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Student Athlete in the USA

I wish there were some details of what Opare studied at Michigan, a prestigious research university. As a Ghanaian child, I hope Opare would not be caught up in the usual Athletic/student hype, which unfortunately is sold as the only college dream to persons of color in the USA.

I am happy to learn about Opare's achievement on the soccer field, but I would be most enthusiastic if he has also utilized the opportunity to earn a degree in a challenging field while at Michigan.

Professional soccer in the USA is not at the level of the game in Europe, S. America or even Africa. Most players earn meager salary. Playing career lasts less than a decade, and the turnover is fast.

Hopefully, Opare is well mentored by his parents and also professors/coaches to see beyond soccer and to make concrete preparation for a career that would last throughout his working life.
JP 12 years ago

Kofi you did not read the article or better yet comprehend the article. Which one is it. It said that he majored in NEUROSCIENCE. It clearly states in the article.

What are you talking about K PHILLY.
"I hope Opare woul ...
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Kofi you did not read the article or better yet comprehend the article. Which one is it. It said that he majored in NEUROSCIENCE. It clearly states in the article.

What are you talking about K PHILLY.
"I hope Opare would not be caught up in the usual Athletic/student hype, which unfortunately is sold as the only college dream to persons of color in the USA"

The guy is about to finish his last year of schooling. Most MLS players have a second career. No one is comparing USA soccer with Europe, S. America or Africa. You are talking to a dead horse, and being an ass.
JP 12 years ago

Plus Michigan is a D-1 School. Which means this guy probably got some form of scholarship to attend the school. He probably doesnt owe a cent from his schooling at Michigan. He got a top notch a education plus he can play MLS ...
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Plus Michigan is a D-1 School. Which means this guy probably got some form of scholarship to attend the school. He probably doesnt owe a cent from his schooling at Michigan. He got a top notch a education plus he can play MLS make a little bit of money and still have a second career at 30 years old. What a you talking about, there are ghanaians in Ghana,Europe, Canada,& U.S who put schooling as #1 and still at the age of 30 do not have a steady career. The sky is the limit for this guy Opare. Stop being negative. Plus most of the said things you mentioned about ghanaian U.S school atheltes. Most of them go to D-3 schools and have no chance in MLS or whatever league, and have no scholarship but waste their time on soccer, that is not the case with Opare.
bx.bomber!! 12 years ago

well said bro!!

well said bro!!
OH GHFUO, WHY SO PRIMITIVE? 12 years ago

GO WHERE THE MONEY IS IN SOCCER. U CAN ALWAYS GET INTO A CAREER IN UR CHOSEN EDUCATIONAL FIELD LATER AFTER UR PRO CAREER HAS ENDED. ALL THE BST N HOPE TO SEE U PLAYING FOR GH ONE DAY

GO WHERE THE MONEY IS IN SOCCER. U CAN ALWAYS GET INTO A CAREER IN UR CHOSEN EDUCATIONAL FIELD LATER AFTER UR PRO CAREER HAS ENDED. ALL THE BST N HOPE TO SEE U PLAYING FOR GH ONE DAY
SAARA-MENSAH 12 years ago

The average Ghanaian can excel no matter what. it's a blessing from God.

The average Ghanaian can excel no matter what. it's a blessing from God.
yaaasantewaa 12 years ago

And that is why the country is so fxcked up

And that is why the country is so fxcked up
zola 12 years ago

GOOD JOB

GOOD JOB
OBINNA 12 years ago

Long live Ghana. You have contributed greatly to world development - in talents and in the development of morals. Your children everywhere in the world are known for their humility, great skills and more. Opare is an example ...
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Long live Ghana. You have contributed greatly to world development - in talents and in the development of morals. Your children everywhere in the world are known for their humility, great skills and more. Opare is an example.

yaaasantewaa 12 years ago

I think you guys are delusional.

I think you guys are delusional.
Blaque Marque 12 years ago

Beautiful posts all my brothers who have posrted comments on Kofi Opare's story...

I can relate to his story.. for I too left Ghana, lived in South Africa...
eventually made it to college in Atlanta, GA...also got a schol ...
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Beautiful posts all my brothers who have posrted comments on Kofi Opare's story...

I can relate to his story.. for I too left Ghana, lived in South Africa...
eventually made it to college in Atlanta, GA...also got a scholarship...and LOVE FOOTBALL..

But that is where the similarities end...for I had to leave the college due to non-availability of tuition fees after the first year scholarship ended...

BUT FOR KOFI OPARE, I AM SO SO PROUD COS HE FINISHED WHERE I COULD NOT...HE PUT GHANA ON THE MAP AND IN DOING SO MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF...HOWEVER SMALL YET...for I believe the positive posts you have all contributed means that this boy has well-wishers all over.

Beautiful!!!
K Philly 12 years ago

Not only have I read the report with utmost care, I have done so from an informed, objective,e and professional perspective. As an excellent academic institution, athletes from Michigan would have quality education. However, ...
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Not only have I read the report with utmost care, I have done so from an informed, objective,e and professional perspective. As an excellent academic institution, athletes from Michigan would have quality education. However, the report celebrates the MLS draft possibility while it is silent on Opare's academic work. I make no insinuation at all. Nonetheless, since this report is within the public domain, it is legitimate to ask about the critical experience of education. In the USA, whether it is an Ivy institution or otherwise, athletes become prized presence on college campus. There are numerous studies of athletic programs compromising the education of young people. Even Michigan had a controversy in 2008 about "booster courses" to 'boost" the GPA of student athletics.
Moreover, the guaranteed average starting salary of an MLS player is less $34,000.00. Yes, off-form stars like Beckem and Henri can still attract mega salary in MLS. But a career beyond the playing days in soccer is preferable. That said, I wish Opare the best in the draft
JP 12 years ago

You said you read the report with the most care. Your first comment, you asked the writer what did he study at Michigan? I reference that if you read the article, you will have known that he majored in Neuroscience. Please be ...
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You said you read the report with the most care. Your first comment, you asked the writer what did he study at Michigan? I reference that if you read the article, you will have known that he majored in Neuroscience. Please be advisd.
Furthermore, you are contridicting yourself. If a school is boosting GPA of athletes then it defeat academic success of the athelete you want us to celebrate. In America, if you play Division 1 sports in NCAA, you are a student athlete. Not a student, not an athelte but a student athelete. Yes the article silent Opare academic work because his there are countless Ghanaians doing far more academically than Opare, and there is nothing celebatory about that. What the writer is talking about is, his athelete success. WHat has Michigan Michigan booster courses has to do with Opare? The guy is about to great, how he study, how he earned his degree, from what institution he obtains his degree. You further contridict yourself by saying Michigan is an excellent academic institution but then bring up the controversy in 2008, if thats the case then Michigan is not an excellent institutition. It will be a fraud school. But that is not the issue. Hence, I played NCAA America Football in college. The football team was treated much better than the soccer team, we receive 20X the stipends to buy meals than the soccer players. Just because we brought in more revenue to the school. The football team received more scholarship than the soccer team. As matter of fact the whole football team revenue was use to fund all other sports in the school including men & women soccer. People that play soccer in America schools knows their limit, they know they are probably not going to go to the big leagues. But they play because of the love of the sport. Does doing something always have to be about money?
Undeniably Opare will be successful both on the field and off the field. Making less than $34,000 playing soccer in America is the norm but guess what, the marketing as part of his success will allow him to grow after playing. I will never discourage someone to pursue something they love regardless of how much money they will make. Money is not everything my friend.
K Philly 12 years ago

I make no insinuations about Opare. I believe he would will do fine. He's already successful. However, he may be the exception rather than the norm. The reference to his academic work is hidden in merely 17 words in a full le ...
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I make no insinuations about Opare. I believe he would will do fine. He's already successful. However, he may be the exception rather than the norm. The reference to his academic work is hidden in merely 17 words in a full length report. It is almost there by default. In rhetorical strategy, the focus is solely on sports rather than the most substantive issue of academics. I am concerned that young Ghanaians would be driven to seek near impossible dreams in athletics (as is sadly the case of our black brothers and sisters in this country) when academic goals are realistic and immediate. I speak from my own experience as one who played soccer at the university level and beyond. I made a choice to go into academia. I am not substituting my goals for any body. I am concerned that young men and women, when exposed to both sports and academic work, would be seduced by the trappings of athleticism instead of burying their heads in books.

Opare represents a success in both sports and academics. The report gives a disproportionate emphasis on sports when a balanced view would have been ideal.
Anyway it's good to hear your perspective on this issue.
JP 12 years ago

them decide. Anything is possible. Getting Master's degree in Engineering and working $15/ hr factory job is not attractive to me. The choice is yours, you made yours. Let everyone make theirs.

them decide. Anything is possible. Getting Master's degree in Engineering and working $15/ hr factory job is not attractive to me. The choice is yours, you made yours. Let everyone make theirs.
bx.bomber!! 12 years ago

tell em bro!!!

tell em bro!!!
Chiddy 12 years ago

The sky is the limit for my cousin. You are surely going to make it BIG in the MLS or Europe.

The sky is the limit for my cousin. You are surely going to make it BIG in the MLS or Europe.

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Opare’s journey from Ghana to the MLS

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