How did you get into playing FIFA and eSports in the first place?
“I am an avid soccer fan. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to play every time, every day, every chance I got. The moment I couldn't play anymore—I don't know why but my parents told me to stop for some reason—I decided to pick up the controller and do something else, and FIFA became that substitute for me. I started playing video games with my older brother every day and getting better. That led to both of us getting signed to different teams, me to DC and him to Cincinnati. We just picked up the controller and said, ‘Okay, let's keep playing this stuff to compete.’ Since we were beating all of our friends, we just decided to take it to the next level.”
You mentioned that your brother is also an eMLS player for FC Cincinnati. What is that like? How’s competing against him?
“It's always nice to have a friendly face—a familiar face—supporting you at all times. For example, I'm at the tournament, and I’m making a deep run, and regardless of our affiliations to different organizations, we still have our backs. That's something that’s very important, supporting each other. Being there through the good times and the bad times, because sometimes it doesn't go our way.”
“We play each other a lot. We have our little brotherly fights when it comes to FIFA, but it's a great feeling knowing that we're both good enough to compete at the highest level in the best League in North America. That's some motivation for us to keep striving for more.”
How were you able to turn your love for video games and FIFA into a career?
“At the beginning, that wasn't how I saw it, I was just playing, having fun, doing it as a passion. The same way everything starts, with a passion. Then, leading up to it, the results you produce, the placements you get, it slowly becomes something bigger than anyone expected, and that's when teams get involved. MLS got involved, D.C. United got involved, and many other companies did too. That’s when I realized that this could go even further, and you keep working and working, and hopefully, one day it comes. So I just keep working to get to the top.”
“But it really just happened. I didn't know it was going to happen. I just kept playing because I loved it, and it's an escape from life. But you see, it's becoming bigger and bigger, without you even realizing it.”
You started competing for D.C. United in 2019. What has been the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself and the competition in the past two years?
“The league itself has evolved in a very good way. They've now got the best players in the region, so every game is not an easy three points, you have to fight for every game. You have the top three ranks—everyone is there. 2019 was my first year, and it was before COVID happened, so it was nice and a good experience. But for the past few years, we've been online, and that has helped me work on my mental health, mental stability, as well as being strong and confident in myself, which is important in anything you do. When you're confident and strong, you can reach limits that nobody else can. Only you can dictate your future. The league has improved continuously from 2019 till now. But what has improved for me from 2019 to now? I think my mentality and, basically, being fearless. Whatever happens, happens, and if God wants it, it'll happen.”
Do you have a favorite memory since joining D.C. United?
“My favorite memory might have been either the National Team call-up or winning the North American Championship that qualified me for the World Cup. That has to be up there.”
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