We’re thrilled to announce that FirstPoint USA client, Konrad Sinu, has secured his place and is headed to Concordia University. The soccer player will be joining the Bulldogs roster this Fall. Here, Konrad shares with us, his sporting background, how he and his family found the process of pursuing a sports scholarship in the States, and what he is most looking forward to upon beginning his life as a student-athlete.
Konrad tells us he was born in Chicago, Illinois, moved to Poland at the age of seven, and finally, to England at the age of 12 where he attended St. Antony’s Catholic College and Carshalton Boys Sports College, where he is currently studying for his BTECs.
Konrad states, “From a young age, I always loved sports and always enjoyed being active, however, soccer always had a special place in my heart. When me and family moved to Poland it was then when I first joined a soccer team. The team was called Resovia Rzeszow which is a professional soccer club. Then when we moved to England I played for several Sunday league teams, as well as being at Manchester City Select and Manchester United Foundation for some time. We then decided to move to London, where I currently play for a Crystal Palace Foundation team which operates within my college.”
With a lengthy sporting career behind him, we asked Konrad to tell us about his favourite sporting memory to date. He tells us, “When I was five years old, my parents surprised me with my first football kit – the FC Barcelona away kit. From that moment, I have always supported FC Barcelona, and follow them on a regular basis. For my 17th birthday, my parents gave me the best birthday present I could imagine; this was to go to Barcelona and have a tour around Camp Nou. This moment was so special to me, and I will never forget this experience.”
Konrad tells us that soccer has always been a priority in his life, and thinking about his future, he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything without a soccer ball at his feet. As a result, Konrad tells us he decided to consider America. After having attended his assessment and interview, Konrad states the process of pursuing his scholarship quickly began.
Konrad adds, that throughout the process, his parents have been extremely supportive; “They both know how strong my passion for this sport is, and as we’ve previously live in America, they strongly believe that I will be successful over there and make my dreams come true.”
The process of obtaining a sports scholarship in the States can be a lengthy, and sometimes confusing, one – Konrad tells us how he and his family got on. “From the very start of the process, it has been a pleasure working with FirstPoint USA. The service is very professional and the team are very kind and helpful. Also, I must add, it has been great working with Toby, Nicola and Gary throughout the process; they were always reachable and guided me very well throughout the process of obtaining a scholarship.”
Having now committed to Concordia University, we asked Konrad how he knew this school was the right fit. He tells us Concordia was the first university to reach out, and had a great interest in him. Being one of the best teams in the NAIA, Concordia have had some great successes in the past. Konrad adds, having spoken to multiple coaches, the decision was a difficult one to make. However, when speaking to coaches from Concordia, Konrad states he immediately felt a strong connection with them – something he feels to be incredibly important in order to be successful in the game.
Upon beginning his life as an American student-athlete, Konrad tells us there are a number of things he is looking forward to. He tells us, “It is exactly what I’m looking for; the professional coaching, dedicated teammates, competition for starting line-up spots, making new friends, and studying at a high level.” Konrad adds he’s also looking forward to the experience for the challenge, he knows this will put him out of his comfort zone, and that’s something he states he is really looking forward to.
Finally, we asked Konrad where he sees himself being in 10 years’ time. He states he hopes to be playing for a professional club, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen.
We’d like to thank Konrad for catching up with us. We’ll keep you updated on Konrad's progress throughout the scholarship process across our various social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Apply to FirstPoint USA today for your once in a lifetime opportunity to head to the States on a sports scholarship:
