Ghanaian defender Lalas Abubakar has opened up about the immense challenges he faced while trying to balance his academic responsibilities with his football ambitions, a struggle that shaped his resilience from his youth in Ghana to his college years in the United States.
Growing up in Accra, Abubakar faced a grueling daily schedule. He attended a boarding school where the demand for discipline was high.
“Here in Africa, you have to practice at 5 a.m. and then rush back and take a shower and go to class. It was a little bit too much, but we got through it,” Abubakar recalled in a recent interview. His family was a constant source of pressure, ensuring he did not neglect his studies for the sport he loved.
However, the academic challenges reached a new level when he received a scholarship to the University of Dayton in Ohio. The structured and demanding nature of the American college system came as a shock. He found his first-month grades were disastrous, with his best result being a D. Abubakar explained the stark difference, noting that in Ghana, one could sometimes skip classes and rely on exam performance, but in the U.S., consistent class attendance and maintaining a specific grade point average were mandatory to remain eligible to play in the NCAA.
Faced with this reality, Abubakar had to adapt quickly. He accepted help from his coaches, who provided him with a tutor. He began dedicating countless extra hours in the library, determined to improve his grades and secure his place on the team.
This perseverance paid off tremendously; he not only earned his degree but also his performances on the pitch led to him being named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, paving the way for his selection in the MLS SuperDraft. His journey highlights the extreme dedication required to succeed in both arenas simultaneously.