Ashaar Bakshi

Ever since I was 5 years old, I have had an unwavering passion for soccer. My first memory of the game was watching my dad’s favorite team win the championship on TV, and I was drawn towards the passion and energy that the fans displayed in the stands. I started playing in a recreational league when I was 6 and eventually tried out for a competitive club team. When I made the second highest team, I was thrilled, and soccer quickly started to take over my life. I bought soccer merch from my favorite teams, played every chance I got, and started to really improve. By the age of thirteen, I was recruited by a coach and placed onto a US travel team. In 2017, we traveled to Spain to participate in an international tournament, and unfortunately lost in the round of 16 to The Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2 years later, I went to Italy to participate in another international tournament, and we lost in the semifinals to Dubai. I brought my international soccer experience to my high school team, as I was named captain of the boys varsity soccer team after successfully making state for the first time in 10 years. I thoroughly enjoyed playing high school soccer and worked to bring attention and new members to our small team. While I won’t be playing professionally, I hope to keep up my soccer skills here at UGA and continue pursuing my passion for the game.