By Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE-BORN Michigan State Universitymen’s soccer senior Farai Mutatu is one of the 44 collegiate soccer players who participated in the Major League Soccer’s College Showcase, which concluded In North Carolina yesterday.
A two day event, MLS College Soccer Showcase took place during the NCAA Men’s College Cup and the event is held to give all MLS teams an opportunity to scout top collegiate prospects in the nation, which will include players with remaining NCAA eligibility.
Mutatu could join two other Zimbabweans namely Teenage Hadebe and US-born right-back Edwin Munjoma in the US topflight league should he impress MLS sides.
Only four other Zimbabweans – the legendary Vitalis Takawira, Joseph Ngwenya, Mkhokheli Dube and Mubarike Chisoni – have played in the MLS.
“I am really proud of Farai and equally excited for him and this opportunity,” MSU head coach Damon Rensing said ahead of the event that began on Friday.
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“Farai has put a lot of work into his goal of becoming a professional soccer player. He has made sacrifices in everything he does with this goal in mind. The MLS combine is the next step in this journey. What is amazing about Farai is that he did this being the ultimate teammate and leader. Good luck Farai!”
Mutatu, who hails from Haslett, Michigan, finished the season fifth in the Big Ten in goals scored with seven. He was also fourth in the league in points per game, averaging 1.00. Mutatu was one of just five Spartans to start all 17 games and biggest highlight of the season was a hat trick in a come-from-behind 4-3 win against Notre Dame on Sept. 14.
The 2021 Adidas MLS College Showcase featured 44 top college players, ranging from freshmen to graduate students, participating in a series of training sessions, testing, interviews, and match play. This event allows MLS clubs to scout and interact with potential MLS SuperDraft selections across different stages of their collegiate careers without jeopardizing players’ collegiate eligibility.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mutatu moved to the US in 2006 when he was about six years old, after his father was offered the opportunity to pursue a chemistry degree at Miuchigan State University.
Eight years later in 2014, things changed again. This time, Mutatu’s parents were forced to return to Zimbabwe for reasons out of their control.
Mutatu has not seen them since. Now in the States, he only has his two older brothers — who are married with families of their own — and his younger sister who is studying mechanical engineering at Notre Dame.