Joining the MNUFC Development Academy represents change for defender Perry Blay. Both on and off of the field, he has noticed growth.
From the minute he started playing the game, Blay was a striker. Whether it was left wing, right wing or in the center, he was always up front. But when he began playing with the DA, he was moved to the backline for the first time in his life.
“Soccer has impacted my life by helping me,” said Blay. “I met a lot of my friends through soccer. I met my best friend on this team, actually. It’s helped me grow physically and mentally, because I have to step up as a leader. I know I’m not the captain, but sometimes I have to get the team in shape.”
Though he leads with poise, stepping up as a leader on the team wasn’t a piece of cake for Blay. At the beginning of the year, he was incredibly shy. But when the team embarked on their first long trip of the season, he saw an opportunity to break out of his shell. It was on this trip that he made most of his friends on the team.
Connecting with his teammates was key because to Blay, chemistry off the field is something that he likes to carry onto the pitch.
“My favorite thing about soccer is probably the people that I play with,” said Blay. “Because to me, the most important thing in soccer is chemistry. You have to get to know your people so that you can play well together.”
From fall season to spring season, Blay’s style of play has evolved through the help of the coaching staff and the guys he goes up against in training every day. He has learned how to be a defender: to stay patient while the opponent is pressing and to aggressively win the ball at the right time.
“When I see a big striker, I start to break down,” said Blay. “I have had to learn how to adjust quickly and step back up, and get in the game.”
Each experience along the way has had an impact on him. He has seen growth both mentally and physically, and has become a well-rounded individual. For Blay, the journey is just beginning. He is eager to find out what his future in the DA will be.
“I’m looking forward to playing for the older team,” said Blay. “And maybe, if I do well enough, then maybe other teams can scout me. Maybe out of the country. Let’s just start small, and hope that I make it to the first team.”
