Queens soccer stars visit South Africa

Ozone Park resident Hirofumi Takeuchi is the reigning City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Scholar Athlete of the Year. He has a 3.9 average in forensic psychology, which he will study at John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduate school when he looks to earn his Masters degree starting this fall. But that's all in the near future. As for the present, soccer is still on the mind of the Tokyo-born Takeuchi.
&#8220It's going to be my last chance to play soccer seriously,” said Takeuchi, who is one of 25 CUNYAC soccer players, nine from Queens, who will take part in the fourth CUNYAC goodwill tour in an upcoming 14-day trip from July 25th through August 8th to South Africa, the site of 2010 World Cup.
This is by far the most demanding of the yearly trips; it all began three years ago when the basketball team went to the Dominican Republic, the women’s basketball team traveled to Ecuador in 2004 and the women’s volleyball squad went to Argentina last summer. &#8220As we've gone further and further, it's become a little bit more complicated each time,” said Zak Ivkovic, the CUNYAC athletic director. &#8220But I think it's a little more worthwhile. We're doing something positive.”
In addition to the four games the CUNYAC team will play against local university teams from Cape Town and Johannesburg, they will run two soccer clinics and immerse themselves in the community, handing out free t-shirts and food to local residents in rural areas.
&#8220We want to learn about South Africa,” Ivkovic said. &#8220What it has to offer, culturally, geographically, socially. In every way we want these men to take something away from all aspects of the trip.”
Victories, of course, are an important part of the excursion. &#8220We're there to win,” said City College of New York Coach Osborne Carter, who will lead the team along with Kennichi Yatsuhashi of Manhattan Community College. &#8220We've practiced, we've trained, we've prepared. We're doing that with a view towards winning and giving a good account of ourselves in South Africa.”
&#8220I just want to basically have fun and win every single game,” Takeuchi added.
Carter, who also coaches the U.S. girls 16-and-under national team, spends much of his time during the summer traveling for tournaments. But when he was offered this opportunity, Carter cancelled his other engagements. &#8220I had to go and be a part of this Goodwill trip,” he said. &#8220A soccer opportunity like this doesn't come along very often. I realized this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
For others, such as York College's goalkeeper Kafui Kouakou, it's more than a soccer trip; it's a return to his homeland - sort of.
Born and raised in Togo, Kouakou played on the 15-and-under national team there before coming to America at the age of 24. He transferred from North Alabama to York to be closer to his immediate family in Springfield Gardens, where he still resides.
&#8220I'm just happy because I'm going back to my roots, even though it's not my country,” said Kouakou, expressing interest in the extensive history of apartheid in South Africa. &#8220I want to get to know the cultures, the history and get a chance to meet Nelson Mandela.”
While that may be asking a bit much, Kouakou is happy to be part of the contingent. &#8220If you're on the team, you proved yourself,” he said. &#8220I'm very excited to be one of the best players.”