Focal Point: Lives In The Balance
In this photo Jhonny Zamor stands in a blue zip up on an indoor soccer field with his right footing resting on a soccer ball.

More than minutes: How international students navigate competitive collegiate soccer

For international soccer players at Bryant & Stratton College, every minute on the field comes with financial, emotional and professional stakes.

Story by Rohan Borges & Felipe Ferraz de Souza Miranda  |  Photos by Ella Chan  |  Data Reporting by Felipe Ferraz de Souza Miranda

Published on June 15, 2026 | Reported from Syracuse, New York

The office at the Massasoit Community College soccer facility was quiet when Jhonny Zamor sat down across from his head coach. He had lied to get out of training that day, half-convinced that his time playing in Massachusetts as a Massasoit Warrior was over. For the international student from Haiti, the weight of working part-time, grinding through classes and competing for minutes on the pitch stopped feeling like a sacrifice and more like a sign. Perhaps it was time to put soccer on hold to reconsider his options. 

Zamor’s coach wasn’t angry with him for skipping practice. Instead, there was an offer on the table: Bryant & Stratton College’s Syracuse campus offered him a full scholarship to play as a defender for their national championship-winning soccer program. 

“That was a life-saving opportunity,” he said. “I said, ‘Thanks God, I’ve been waiting for that.’” 

Far from home, closer to a goal

Photo by Ella Chan

Coming to Cuse

Far from home, closer to a goal

Jhonny Zamor traveled from his small hometown of Petit-Goâve, Haiti, to Bryant & Stratton College's Syracuse campus. In this episode, Jhonny talks about his lifelong dream of a professional soccer career.

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Far from home, closer to a goal

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Produced by Rohan Borges

Transcript: Far from home, closer to a goal

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity

Jhonny Zamor: The school did a lot for me, but at the same time too, I personally think I’ve done a lot for Bryant & Stratton.

Rohan Borges: This is Coming to Cuse, a podcast about immigrating to the Salt City. I’m Rohan Borges. Jhonny Zamor left his home in Haiti to chase his dream of playing professional soccer. Adjusting to life in the United States wasn’t easy, but he found his footing at Bryant & Stratton College. We spoke with Jhonny about balancing academics and being an international student athlete.

Zamor: I think my parents didn’t want me to play soccer at the beginning. Especially my mom. It’s not because she didn’t want me to play, it’s because, you know, your parents want the best for you, as everybody’s parents. So when you’re looking at it in the community, a lot of kids who started playing soccer, they ended up doing something else in life, you know what I mean. And playing soccer doesn’t mean you can reach the level that you really want to reach. So the parent wants to make sure, “Hey, I think you should really focus on your school instead of, you know, wasting your time because soccer can really take a lot of time from your studies.” So I just didn’t have that support system when I was kind of young, but as I grew and my mom had to realize that OK, this is something that can really help him, and for me I always tell people soccer took me to places that I never expected to be.

I was going to Massasoit Community College. I was really going through a hard time in life because I was in a situation where I was like, hey, you know what? I need to drop out. I was going to drop out from college because I felt like I was going through a hard time. I was working part time. I mean, I’m not even scared to talk about it because eventually thing’s not the same anymore. I was working part time and I was kind of struggling. I didn’t want to call my parents because my parents wanted me to come back to Florida and live with them. I didn’t want to, but I was going to school full time, working part time, and my parents would send me money to pay for the bills and stuff when it comes to housing, because I was not making that much money because I was only working part time. When I was about to drop out, my old coach told me, “If you do not give up on me, I’m not going to give up on you. There are better opportunities for you.”

I think this guy came, he changed my life: My coach told me before the game, “We’re going to play against Bryant & Stratton, it’s the best team in the league. If you perform good, there might be some opportunities.” I was not even worried about losing the game or not, but I wanted to perform good in front of him. So there was this guy, he got the best striker. He was the best striker in the league. I made sure I stopped him. Yeah, I was I was just making sure I stop him. I wanted to stand out. So I stopped the best players, one of these players.

So that’s when he reached out to my coach and say, “Hey, I have an opportunity for this guy. Nobody ever stopped my striker, but he did.” That’s why I got the opportunity. He called me and said, “Hey, I have an opportunity that that could be a life changing opportunity for you.” That’s the first thing that he told me. And a lot of time they don’t let freshmen go. But he let me go because he knows that I needed something better.

And then he gave me that full ride and Nick kind of told me, “Hey,” he was always telling me: “If you are nice to people and you go to class, you pass your class, then school is not so hard. Everybody’s going to like you. You ask for help when you need.” That’s exactly what I did. That’s how I built a community. Big shout out to Coach Nick to who gave me the opportunity to kind of come to school here and he told me what to do and I did it and then everything worked out the way it was supposed to.

When that opportunity comes and the coach told me, “Hey, I’m going to give you a full ride,” so it means I will be living on campus, I won’t have to pay for anything. I was like that was a lifesaving opportunity. I was really happy and I said thanks God, I’ve been waiting for that. I was really happy though. Like really happy and I called my parents. I said, “Hey, this is what I have now. And I’m looking forward to it.” You know, the thing is my parents, my parents are not used to that, right? Because they’re not used to soccer. They don’t know how it works. And when I told him, “Hey, I think I’m getting an opportunity to get a full ride and I’m going to go to school. This is how much the school cost and this is how much they’re going to give me.” The first thing my parents told me, “Can you give me that money in cash? We could open a business with it.” Yeah. My mom told me that, “Can you give me that money in cash? Or can they give you some of it?” And I was like, no, mom. You don’t get the money. It’s a scholarship, they give it to the school. But they were really happy.

The only thing is I was going to move to a new city where I don’t know nobody. I think that’s where my parents were kind of, you know, a little bit, hey, do you think you’re making the best decision? Well, this is when you come down to it, it’s only about yourself. Sometimes you’re going to come down to where you have to make a decision for yourself. Because every time like when I was talking to people – hey, this is the opportunity that I have and I have to make a decision – everybody was telling me you got to do what’s best for you. And I took a chance.

The more you play, the more experience you’re going to have. I will probably say the only difference that we have between the football in Hatiti, or soccer, it’s just like the college soccer is kind of way faster, it’s more physical. You know, you have to be in shape, like you have always to keep working, right? That’s what I was doing. So over the summer, I’ll train full time. I’ll train Monday to Friday and make sure I play a game over the weekend. And when I come back for this for the fall, I’m always ready to go. You know what I mean? So the only difference is you have to keep working all the time. But I think back home is different. In Haiti it’s just like when you even play professional, you just play. When you’re not in season, now you’re just going to play pickup, but you don’t really train like that. So the difference is that people here are always in shape because the kids know that OK, if I’m playing for college I don’t want to lose my scholarship because I know there’s somebody else that’s working. If I’m not working, somebody else is putting in the work. That’s how it is. It’s really competitive. So when I moved here I think I used to work hard, but I think I worked harder when I came in.

I thought knew English a little, but I didn’t know nothing. So I had to struggle in my freshman year. I kind of struggled a little bit with the English because, you know, it’s a new environment, new culture and new language. So, I kind of had to, you know, put myself in a position to learn and also I had, you know, good friends being in America for so long. So, I tried to communicate with them with in English. But most of the time, in the beginning I was kind of scared, hey, what if I say something people do not understand me? But it is what it is, I’m going to give it a try and then do my best.

To be honest, it’s really kind of tough, especially when you are international and the first thing that you struggle with is being apart from your family. And that’s one of the things to play in soccer, you get alone a lot, a long time. So one of the things that we usually do is to hang out with some other friends. Some people are not really social though, which is fine. But especially when you live in the dorm, the guys are always hanging out in the lounge. So we hang out a lot when I used to be there. And whenever we have a new players coming in, I will go and show them around and kind of have them out. We go coaching together. I’m a coffee person, we go for coffees and kind of show them around. A lot of hanging out time. That’s what we do.

But it’s kind of tough though. A lot of them struggle a lot with different situations. Sometimes they want to see their family. Sometimes, for example, in Thanksgiving break, you don’t have a family here, ticket is expensive, you can’t travel back home to go into your family, you know. They face different struggles and I know there is a lot of players that are making a lot of sacrifices just to be here.

I think that I could be an example when I’m talking to some kids that just say, “Hey, I just went here. I don’t know nobody. I don’t have a support system.” I will tell people, “Hey, when I moved here too I didn’t really have any support system. I didn’t know nobody. So I had to put myself in the community, had to go outside, try to meet new friends, try to be more open-minded. When people tell me to do something, I just get it done. And that’s one thing my coaches like about me. When I was playing for Bryant & Stratton, when he told me to do something, I just make sure I get it done.

I’m part of the technical staff, which means like assistant coach. But to be honest, coaching is not really something that I see in the long term. I always say if I don’t make it to the highest level, I don’t think I’ll be looking into like a coach, but I’ll probably be looking into something else instead of coaching in the field. So I just do it for the experience to be around the head coach. You never know where life’s going to take you.

I personally I think I’ve done a lot for Bryant & Stratton. I was the student ambassador. I was the campus speaker. When I came here I started working for the school as a resident assistant. I have to welcome students and we have students that are coming from different backgrounds, so I want to make sure that those students feel welcome. I kind of learned the basics of a few languages to make those students feel welcome. I wanted to be an example. I had to kind of get myself out of the comfort zone. I think they give me the opportunity and I gave something in return.

Borges: Coming to Cuse is a production of students at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. This episode was reported by Rohan Borges and Felipe Miranda and produced by Rohan Borges.
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Across the United States, college soccer has become a major entry point for international players seeking professional playing careers. But making it to a professional team in the U.S. starts with intense competition, limited playing time and challenges many players don’t fully anticipate before they arrive. 

“When you first come here, everyone around you is basically the same as you,” said Tyrese Osayande, a forward from Coventry, England. “Everyone has the same goal: Everyone wants to go pro. That can be very challenging, mentally.”  

More athletes means more competition

From 2017 to 2022, the percentage of international athletes on men’s NCAA soccer rosters jumped from less than a third to nearly two out of five players. Of the 28 athletes that made up an average 2022 NCAA soccer roster, around 11 were likely to be from overseas compared to fewer than nine in 2017. Across all NCAA college sports, the number of international athletes playing in the U.S. increased by more than 16% in the same time frame — a gain of more than 4,000 athletes. 

With more players from overseas steadily making the journey to compete at a high collegiate level in the U.S., even the multiple divisions of the NCAA don’t have the roster space to accommodate them. Some players must accept scholarships from teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association for two-year junior college programs or United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division I & II schools, which include community colleges. At colleges like Bryant & Stratton, a USCAA institution, players seek to establish their names in order to move up to the NCAA or even gain professional consideration.  

“There are players that I’m probably better than playing in a higher league. However, there are players in lower leagues who are probably better than me,” said Tyric Mcallister, a 26-year-old forward from Guyana. “From my perspective, it’s about connection, but it’s also about your ability.” 

In the USCAA Division I this season, at least 40% of the 585 student-athletes listed on official rosters were from outside the United States, and this figure jumps above 50% when excluding players without a listed nationality.  

“Soccer is totally different than any other college sport,” said Bryant & Stratton Head Coach Ryan McGee, who played in the NJCAA before beginning his coaching career. “There are millions of these kids who want to come here on scholarships. Hundreds of thousands of them at a higher level than our high school players. It’s a massive industry… and sometimes the players don’t realize they’re part of that.” 

At Bryant & Stratton, the soccer team included 14 different nationalities over the past three seasons. This season’s roster consists of 24 players, 22 of whom are from abroad. Players said adapting to this new and ever-evolving environment means not only adjusting to a new culture, but also learning to survive and grow under pressure. 

“There’s always tension because everyone is on their own journey. People are going to feel a certain way about you because they think you’re not thinking about the team,” Osayande said. “But realistically it’s your journey and everyone has to move above everyone else to get somewhere.” 

Although data from Divisions II and below are limited, just 0.8% of male NCAA Division I soccer players receive professional offers after college. 

When playing takes a toll 

The hard work players put in for the opportunity to join a USCAA Division I school like Bryant & Stratton is only the first step. Now playing at the collegiate level, student athletes are competing for limited playing time and relying on coaches and scouts for opportunities to advance their careers. Players must produce goals and assists during their time on the pitch. Without quality highlights or tangible evidence of a return on interest, their futures as athletes become uncertain. 

“The school can only lose so much money. They have to draw the line somewhere,” McGee said. “Sometimes it breaks your heart. They have the best attitude, all they want to do is play for you … and you just can’t find a solution.” 

Life off the pitch also isn’t easy: Living in the United States is expensive, and for many international players, visa restrictions mean they can’t work to support themselves.  

“My scholarship only covers 60% of my tuition, so I need about $4,700 to pay the rest,” Mcallister said.  

Players must also grapple with the unexpected: Mcallister described a leg injury he sustained last season as one of his darkest moments, forcing him to regain the coach’s trust and re-establish himself in the rotation.  

“Picture yourself praying for an opportunity and you got it, and then someone just kills your spirit,” Mcallister said. “You’re not motivated anymore. You just want to not play anymore. That’s the feeling.” 

Players said they continue to rely on something much more steadfast than the system itself: their community as a team. 

“You all come from different countries, but we all speak one language, and that’s soccer,” Osayande said. “Everyone comes together to play the same game, and that’s how we communicate. Even if our backgrounds are different, the game gives you something shared right away.” 

Building community off the pitch

For some players, becoming familiar with a new environment takes time. But the sting of being far from home and away from family always lingers.  

“For international players, if you don’t have family around you, it can really affect you,” Osayande said, quietly. “I went through a tough period last year where I felt very alone. The support from my family back home gave me the motivation and discipline to keep going.” 

International Student-Athletes

Map showing player origins and routes to Syracuse, New York

Bryant & Stratton (Syracuse, NY)
International player
Domestic (USA / Canada)

Where the Bobcats Come From

The 2025-26 Bryant & Stratton College men's soccer roster spans the U.S., Canada and four continents. These paths represent each player's journey to Syracuse.

Source: BSC-Syracuse Athletics 2025-26 men's soccer roster

At Bryant & Stratton, players said support also grows naturally within the locker room. Former team captain Jessie Kwasi, from Ghana, said brotherhood keeps them grounded. 

“Most of the time, the relationship we build is mostly between the players,” he said. “We end up asking for more help from teammates than we do from the coach. The coach is there, and he helps when you reach out. But we spend most of our time together: living together, eating the same food, being in the same apartment.” 

Over time, that togetherness evolves into its own lifeline. When recruits arrive, the older players ensure they feel like part of the family. Teammates bond over their shared struggles and stories of off-the-pitch success and perseverance, Kwasi said. The team leaders set a culture of diversity and inclusivity so that newcomers can fit in seamlessly.  

“We have small traditions,” Kwasi said. “When we’re driving somewhere, we play music from Haiti, from Africa, from wherever someone is from. We just vibe and laugh.”  

The players said that as teammates, they communicate through movement and instinct. The coaching staff watches it unfold each season. 

“The glue of the team is just a very strong love for the game of soccer,” McGee said. “That’s what always pulls them together.” 

By the end of practice, as the players pack up their bags with sweat-soaked training kits and ice-cold water bottles, laughter and joy engulf the pitch.  

“A lot of us are making sacrifices just to be here,” Zamor said. “But every time we play together, it reminds me why I came.”  

For some players, the grind pays off. After earning his degree, Zamor took on a role on Bryant & Stratton’s technical coaching staff. Kwasi signed with the Fourth Division National Premier Soccer League team, Virginia Dream Football Club, at the end of the season. 

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