The Platform is Scarier than the Dive
A feature of U15 Red Bulls player, and rising star, Astin Mbaye
By: Trevon James, Features Lead + Sports Editor, UltraFooty/Freelance
Astin Mbaye, a 14-year-old soccer phenom, is far from his home town of Jersey City, New Jersey at the moment. He’s currently in Portugal blasting music and celebrating a 2–1 victory with the U15 United States Youth National Team as they moved on in the UEFA Developmental Tournament. While the average 14-year-old stacks victories in Fortnite, lamenting disapproval of homework and melodramatic coming of age drama, Astin cements yet another imprint in what he hopes to be an extensive soccer legacy.
Parents will often pull their kids to the side at sporting events and provide a supportive reminder about the games they play. They’re supposed to be fun. For Astin, that’s all soccer was; just something to pass the time in the summer for a bit of fun. But during the COVID-19 pandemic Astin joined the Cedar Stars Academy, a youth soccer development program held in prominent standing amongst players and coaches around New Jersey and New York. This is when Astin said that everything changed.
It came after Astin played against some of his now teammates on the Red Bulls. As a defender for Cedar Stars, coaches were impressed by his ability, leading opposing coaches to wonder if they could somehow unlock more of his skill for them.
“While I was practicing, they just pulled my Dad to the side, and offered me a contract,” Astin said.
Astin would go onto play in the Red Bull system of teams, first starting with the U14 squad, and now practicing with their U17 players. At the end of November, Astin even met with his coaches to discuss the possibility of seeing more play time with the U17 Red Bull squad as well, a goal Astin said he set out for as soon as he got the opportunity to play for the club.
So how did Astin get here, exactly? UltraFooty founder and Astin’s personal coach, Dylan Evande went into meticulous detail about what he sees in Astin’s game.
“He’s calm and collected, and I think that’s because when he’s with me, he’s playing with college kids and professionals.”
Ageism is a distant thought in the minds of UltraFooty compatriots. Dylan focuses on skills based matchmaking — allowing for some interesting combinations of players to take form. While the gap in age and size might be wide, and closing at a seemingly glacial pace, the gap in skill takes leaps everytime Astin plays with his older mates.
“He’s gotten so much better on the ball, and in his game, there is no pressure — he’s so comfortable,” lauded Dylan of his client and budding protégé.
Dylan took a beat when I spoke to him to ensure he wasn’t blowing noxious gas into the young boy’s head…
“It makes the Red Bull games easier, he’s got work to do, but he’s got limitless potential.”
According to Dylan, Astin has skills now, at 14, that Dylan had not developed until he was much further into his career.
“He just takes information, and applies it,” a rare skill Dylan notes that Astin has at such a young age.
His play eventually landed him a spot with the US National team, an opportunity which Astin admitted he was apprehensive toward.
“I was nervous, for sure, but once I got out there I knew I could keep up,” he said with a sheepish smile.
His sense of belonging was validated through his play. Inspired by a deep infatuation for soccer from his father and additional support from his younger brother and mother, Astin has been able to become a staple on the U15 National team.
Outside of the game Astin reverts to being like every other 14-year-old. He goes to school, follows other sports, and likes to cook in his spare time, in fact his dream dinner guest is Chelsea defender, Thiago Silva. He comes from a good family, who — Dylan says — does not pressure Astin into being more than he feels he can be. Dylan sees the 14-year-old budding star as having “a lot of humility,” a trait, he says, that comes directly from his upbringing.
“A lot of parents see potential and try to tie their own dreams to their kid’s. That isn’t the case here. Astin is just enjoying life.”
Dylan calls the lanky, quiet defender, “the first true success story” out of UltraFooty. Astin, wise beyond his years, still has a ways to go. His focus remains on doing the simple things as well as he can, and going from there. So, as Portugal scored from 40 yards out today to tie the score at one apiece, the young man did not flinch, he did not waiver, and he did not break. He and his squad dug their heels in and regained control of their destiny, to move forward to the next round.
What comes next? Well, according to Dylan Astin will just keep working on his one-on-one aerial battles.
