Development Academy midfielder Soloman Straub’s story begins somewhere far away from the frosty spring fields and indoor facilities of the National Sports Center where the U13 team has already begun training for the upcoming season. It begins at an orphanage where his first touches were in sweltering 90-degree heat.
“I was born in Africa, and my mom couldn’t afford to take care of us, so she sent my brother and I to an orphanage,” said Straub. “There were a couple of older kids — way older. I asked to play soccer with them. They wouldn’t let us. And so every day, I would sit there on the steps, watching them play soccer. I tried to practice myself to see how good I was, and to make myself better.”
Visitors brought soccer balls to the orphanage for the children, and Straub would play by himself. He grew accustomed to coaching himself, until his story took a new direction.
Straub and his brother were adopted by a family in the United States already immersed in soccer culture. At the age of four, he began playing for the St. Paul Blackhawks as a Little Hawk. After the coaches saw him play, he was quickly moved up.
“When I was six, I went to play with U9,” said Straub. “Kids were two years older than me, and the coach doubted me. He said, ‘There’s no way that he can play with us.’ But then after that season, they put me on a C1 team.”
C1, or Classic 1, is just below Premier when it comes to the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association’s level of competitive play and ahead of C2 and C3, where you might expect a young player to start.
After a few years with the Blackhawks, Straub joined the MNUFC Development Academy. He still plays up for his age, an 11-year-old on the U13 squad.
Straub has seen his game improve with the Development Academy, both mentally and through his ball control and movement on the field. The coaches have had a major impact on him.
“I like learning things from these coaches,” said Straub. “I think these coaches coach at a much higher level than what I’ve had before, in the past. I think they can teach me a lot. I am more aggressive that I used to be, and confident. My skills have also grown. I do not like to be pushed down or anything. If somebody pushes me down, I will get right back up and get the ball back.”
Straub is just getting started, but he’s motivated to continue. He’s never let anyone or anything get in the way of his dream of playing soccer.
“It makes me happy, beating all of the coaches,” said Straub. “They doubted me. They thought I couldn’t play soccer. But now that I’m up at this level, I’m pretty happy. I still have goals, though. I have to make it to the first team. I would love to do that.”
