MANILA – Negrense booter Shanden Vergara bolted out of De La Salle University Green Archers men’s football squad after receiving scholarship to study at Snow College in Utah, USA.
The San Carlos City, Negros Occidental native will have a chance to compete in Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association with his transfer to the said state college.
“The offer was made through the Football for Humanity President, Chris Thomas, and his international partnerships with a top caliber recruitment organization called Sports Recruiting USA based in the United Kingdom,” he told Tiebreaker Times.
Vergara added that he was selected by SRUSA as one of the 50 players around the world to be given scholarship after he sent a video compilation to Thomas, who then sent it to his contacts in the UK.
Vergara also said that he has 30 scholarship offers to choose from in the US, and he selected Snow College because it offers quality education; a serene campus to study in; and the opportunity to play under head coach Nuno Gourgel.
“I see it as a stepping stone to bigger and greater things in the world of education and football,” Vergara said. “Furthermore, the opportunity to play in the Major League Soccer is not just a distant dream, but becoming more of a reality.”
Green Archers head coach Alvin Ocampo said he will not block in the way of Vergara on an opportunity to play overseas.
“Opportunities like this seldom come. [I am] happy for him and DLSU fully supports his decision,” said Ocampo. “Good luck to him and DLSU will always be his home.”/PN
