What does Diversity look like on a soccer team?

Dear SU Community,

They are barely 10 years old but their love of the beautiful game shines through as bright as their smiles after winning their first tournament. Gambia, Japan, Haiti, South Korea, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Europe, and the US are all part of their roots and culture. This is a special team on and off the pitch.

Coach Ebrima “EJ” Jatta was born in Banjul, Gambia where he played for his boyhood club Banjul Hawks FC and then in Finland for FC Futura. Between 2010 and 2011, he played college soccer at Bellevue College. EJ signed his first professional contract with USL Professional Division club Los Angeles Blues in 2012. He now coaches for Seattle United.

About the players:

Aaron was born in Seattle. Both parents are from Eritrea and moved to Seattle 25 years ago.

Davis was born in Seattle and has Eastern European Jewish, Western European Catholic, and Korean heritage. His grandparents immigrated to America from South Korea with less than $200. Davis’ dad is the 1st person in his family born in America.

Grant was born in Washington. His father is from South Korea, and his mother is a 3rd generation Korean born and raised in Japan. He has close family in both Korea and Japan. He speaks Japanese, Korean and English.

Haruki was born in Seattle. Both of his parents were born in Japan. His dad came from Osaka and his mom from Saitama next to Tokyo.

Liam, Nixon, Nolan, Wade all draw from mixed European roots.

Naoli was born in Ethiopia and moved to Seattle when he was adopted at eighteen months old.  He is an only child in a transracial single-parent family.

Nasir was born and raised in Seattle as well as his parents.

Sasha was born in Seattle and traces his roots to Haiti – where his dad was born and spent the first 8 years of his life prior to his family moving to Montreal, Canada.

As one parent said “the diverse friendships and coaches my son experiences on this Seattle United team and through soccer are cherished.”

Our next article will feature coach Jules Sackeyfio and her G2003/2004 Copa RL team.

See you on the pitch,