Posted: May 16, 2011
Faik to Play for Rosemont College
Blue Bell, Pa. – Ahmed Faik (Ambler), a second-year sophomore starter and captain for the Montgomery County Community College Mustangs men’s soccer team, will join the Rosemont College Ravens NCAA Division III program in the Fall of 2011.
Faik began playing soccer at the age of four, joining friends and neighbors for street games in his hometown of Baghdad, Iraq. “Soccer is very popular in Iraq,” said Faik. “There are many opportunities to play and everyone participates.”
By the time Faik entered junior-senior high school in seventh grade, he was playing on his class team. In eighth and ninth grade, his classmates elected him captain of the squad.
“I was enjoying my life, going to school and playing soccer in Baghdad, but the situation became increasingly unsafe as I was finishing up my freshman year.” Faik’s mother, already a United States citizen, moved the family to Ambler, Pa. in November of 2006. Faik began school almost immediately, enrolling at Upper Dublin High School as a sophomore.
“It was a difficult transition,” said Faik. “I had been taking English lessons since fifth grade, but communication was hard for the first couple weeks at my new school in the States.”
Luckily, at Upper Dublin, Faik fell in with a crowd of soccer players, including current Rosemont soccer player, Ryan Hartzell. Eventually Hartzell introduced Faik to the soccer coach, Rick Schmidt, who encouraged him to try out the following Fall.
Faik gave it a shot and was ecstatic when he made the team. “I was grateful to be able to play soccer again. It was hard to adjust to the different culture of the States, but soccer was familiar.”
When Faik graduated from Upper Dublin in 2009, he chose to attend Montgomery County Community College. Immediately he inquired about playing soccer for the Mustangs.
Head Coach Andy Kelly was thrilled to have Faik. “We play in Region XIX of the National Junior College Athletic Association,” Kelly noted. “It’s a very competitive league and Ahmed stepped up with great leadership for us in the midfield.”
Faik started every game for the Mustangs in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was elected captain in his second year with the squad. “I really enjoyed playing for the Mustangs,” said Faik. “My teammates were very experienced and we had a lot of fun playing together.”
As a collegiate student-athlete, Faik not only excelled on the field, but in the classroom as well. He studied engineering and business at Montgomery County Community College, trying to decide which avenue of study to pursue. Eventually choosing business, Faik started looking for four-year colleges with business degree programs. Hartzell told Faik about Rosemont College’s Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.
“It seemed like a good fit academically,” said Faik. “Rosemont was able to take 40 transfer credits from my classes at Montgomery County Community College.”
Faik also liked Rosemont because he would have the chance to play soccer there. “My former Mustangs teammate, Nick Hulayew, played at Rosemont, along with my high school friend Ryan. They both had positive things to say about the soccer program, so I decided to contact the coach.”
Rosemont Ravens Head Coach, Will Nord, visited Montgomery County Community College to see Faik play in October of his sophomore year. “He showed an obvious love of the game,” said Coach Nord. Coach Nord and Faik agreed on a visit to Rosemont in November. “I met the team, took a tour of campus and talked more with Coach Nord. That’s when I finally decided to apply.”
Faik was accepted as a Fall 2011 transfer and he was awarded the Rosemont Scholarship, a merit award based on his past academic achievement.
“I am really excited to go to Rosemont,” said Faik. “Coach Nord is a great coach and I’m looking forward to playing with my two former teammates, Nick and Ryan, again.”
When Faik completes his MBA a few years from now, he hopes to own his own business, most likely overseas. “I will probably live and work in the Middle East or Europe. Dubai seems nice.” Wherever he ends up, Faik will continue to be involved with soccer. “I love the sport and hope to coach in the future. My goal is to run my business, coach my team and just enjoy life.”
Faik began playing soccer at the age of four, joining friends and neighbors for street games in his hometown of Baghdad, Iraq. “Soccer is very popular in Iraq,” said Faik. “There are many opportunities to play and everyone participates.”
By the time Faik entered junior-senior high school in seventh grade, he was playing on his class team. In eighth and ninth grade, his classmates elected him captain of the squad.
“I was enjoying my life, going to school and playing soccer in Baghdad, but the situation became increasingly unsafe as I was finishing up my freshman year.” Faik’s mother, already a United States citizen, moved the family to Ambler, Pa. in November of 2006. Faik began school almost immediately, enrolling at Upper Dublin High School as a sophomore.
“It was a difficult transition,” said Faik. “I had been taking English lessons since fifth grade, but communication was hard for the first couple weeks at my new school in the States.”
Luckily, at Upper Dublin, Faik fell in with a crowd of soccer players, including current Rosemont soccer player, Ryan Hartzell. Eventually Hartzell introduced Faik to the soccer coach, Rick Schmidt, who encouraged him to try out the following Fall. Faik gave it a shot and was ecstatic when he made the team. “I was grateful to be able to play soccer again. It was hard to adjust to the different culture of the States, but soccer was familiar.”
When Faik graduated from Upper Dublin in 2009, he chose to attend Montgomery County Community College. Immediately he inquired about playing soccer for the Mustangs.
Head Coach Andy Kelly was thrilled to have Faik. “We play in Region XIX of the National Junior College Athletic Association,” Kelly noted. “It’s a very competitive league and Ahmed stepped up with great leadership for us in the midfield.”
Faik started every game for the Mustangs in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was elected captain in his second year with the squad. “I really enjoyed playing for the Mustangs,” said Faik. “My teammates were very experienced and we had a lot of fun playing together.”
As a collegiate student-athlete, Faik not only excelled on the field, but in the classroom as well. He studied engineering and business at Montgomery County Community College, trying to decide which avenue of study to pursue. Eventually choosing business, Faik started looking for four-year colleges with business degree programs. Hartzell told Faik about Rosemont College’s Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.
“It seemed like a good fit academically,” said Faik. “Rosemont was able to take 40 transfer credits from my classes at Montgomery County Community College.”
Faik also liked Rosemont because he would have the chance to play soccer there. “My former Mustangs teammate, Nick Hulayew, played at Rosemont, along with my high school friend Ryan. They both had positive things to say about the soccer program, so I decided to contact the coach.”
Rosemont Ravens Head Coach, Will Nord, visited Montgomery County Community College to see Faik play in October of his sophomore year. “He showed an obvious love of the game,” said Coach Nord. Coach Nord and Faik agreed on a visit to Rosemont in November. “I met the team, took a tour of campus and talked more with Coach Nord. That’s when I finally decided to apply.” Faik was accepted as a Fall 2011 transfer and he was awarded the Rosemont Scholarship, a merit award based on his past academic achievement.
“I am really excited to go to Rosemont,” said Faik. “Coach Nord is a great coach and I’m looking forward to playing with my two former teammates, Nick and Ryan, again.”
When Faik completes his MBA a few years from now, he hopes to own his own business, most likely overseas. “I will probably live and work in the Middle East or Europe. Dubai seems nice.” Wherever he ends up, Faik will continue to be involved with soccer. “I love the sport and hope to coach in the future. My goal is to run my business, coach my team and just enjoy life.”