Sachiel Ming Making A Name For Himself In US
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermudian Sachiel Ming has become one of the hottest properties in high school football in the United States following his memorable season for Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York.
The 18-year-old helped Northwood reach the final of the inaugural Prep Premier League Championship, losing 3-1 to Woodstock Academy, of Connecticut, in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, last month.
Ming was also selected for the East in the High School All-American game and was named his team’s MVP after scoring in their 5-2 defeat to the West in Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this month.
The winger, who will play for semi-professional Vermont side Black Rock FC in the USL League D2 next summer, has been rewarded for his eye-catching performances with a scholarship to NCAA Division I powerhouse Syracuse University in New York.
“Syracuse University has a top soccer team and I’m looking forward to playing for them,” Ming told Bernews. “They first watched me play as a sophomore when I was 16, and their coach [Ian McIntyre] got in contact with me during my junior year last summer.”
Ming, who played for PHC Zebras and Robin Hood’s youth teams, said his ultimate ambition is to get drafted by a Major League Soccer side once he has graduated.
“I’d love to become a professional, but if that doesn’t happen, I want to finish school and earn my degree,” said Ming, who has represented Bermuda Under-15.
Before moving to the US at 16, Ming was mentored by John Barry Nusum and Darrin Lewis at Saltus Grammer School and benefitted from one-on-one coaching from Bermuda defender Danté Leverock.
He has also been inspired by the footballing exploits of his older brother Ahria Simons, who attends Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and plays for Premier Division side PHC.
“John Bary Nusum gave me a lot of confidence to do my best,” Ming added. “Darrin Lewis also knows a lot about the game in the US.
“I also trained with Danté Leverock for a few months, and he helped me prepare for playing out there.”
