Nick King/Lansing State Journal |
Michigan State University Soccer player Farai Mutatu is the latest Zimbabwean to get drafted to play professional football for one of the biggest soccer teams in USA, the Los Angeles Galaxy. Mutatu’s parents announced the pick during the live broadcast via telecast from home in Zimbabwe.
Agreed!!!🥰😊
— MSU Men's Soccer (@MSU_MSoccer) January 11, 2022
From Zimbabwe to MSU and now on to LA!! @FaraiMutatu and the Mutatu family are now part of the @LAGalaxy family!! Thank you for sharing Farai with us!!#GoGreen https://t.co/PWSNm5qeCZ
Mutatu’s parents moved to Haslett, Michigan in 2006 before moving back to Zimbabwe in 2014. He hasn’t seen his parents since then.
After a breakout 2021 season at Michigan State University, where he was studying Human Resources, Mutatu was taken in the first round of the 2022 Major League Soccer SuperDraft at 21st overall.
The forward tallied seven goals, three assists and played in all 17 matches during the campaign. In 67 career appearances, Mutatu had 13 goals and eight assists.
“There’s a lot of emotion, I’m so grateful, and feel extremely blessed to be given this opportunity, and thank you LA Galaxy for believing in me and giving me this opportunity, I’m just so grateful,” Mutatu said in a post-draft interview. “Seeing my parents on the call and announced that call, honestly, I couldn’t have imagined it to be any better. It’s a dream come true. I just wanted to first and foremost give all glory and honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t be here without him. I thank my family and all my friends, my teammates and my coaches that have helped me get here. I’m just really grateful and excited to get going.”
Check out Mutatu’s story below