UD star follows dream from Ghana to pro soccer league

$University of Dayton soccer star Isaac Kissi, who grew up in Accra, Ghana, never went home in three years here because the money he did earn working he sent back to his family. Kissi wants to give his family even more – a car for his dad, a nice chair for his mom – now that he has been drafted by Major League Soccer's \uFEFFChivas USA\uFEFF, which is based in Carson, Calif. Staff photo by Jim Witmer$

Jim Witmer University of Dayton soccer star Isaac Kissi, who grew up in Accra, Ghana, never went home in three years here because the money he did earn working he sent back to his family. Kissi wants to give his family even more – a car for his dad, a nice chair for his mom – now that he has been drafted by Major League Soccer's \uFEFFChivas USA\uFEFF, which is based in Carson, Calif. Staff photo by Jim Witmer

ENLARGE PHOTO

Hard work puts UD soccer star on path to pro career

By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer Updated 9:42 PM Saturday, January 23, 2010

It was as if Kenny Rogers showed up at the Kennedy Union snack bar on the University of Dayton campus as a 22-year-old African wearing a black watch cap, studs in his ears and an infectious smile.

“I bettered my English watching movies and especially listening to music,” Isaac Kissi said. “Hip hop — Young Jeezy, Jay Z and Lil Wayne — some jazz and country.”

Country?

“Oh, yeah, my dad used to have a Kenny Rogers CD. I know all the songs.”

And with that — right there among the other students — he began to sing Rogers’ rendition of the old Mungo Jerry tune, “In the Summertime.”

“In the summertime, when the weather is high,

“You can chase right up and touch the sky.

“When the weather’s fine,

“You got women, you got women on your mind.”

And Kissi has touched the sky.

His story of finding the American Dream — after losing a big chunk of it right there on the UD campus — began back in Accra, Ghana, where he grew up in poverty, but with strong parental guidance.

When Isaac showed promise on the soccer field, his mother, Comfort Kissi — who trades goods in the teeming open-air market in the city — sold some of her personal treasures and jewelry to buy him a couple pair of cleats.

With firm footing — not just from the shoes — he ended up playing soccer at UD after his parents first refused to let their young son accept offers from pro clubs in Holland, Qatar and London.

They wanted him to get an education.

In three years at UD, he became a soccer star, graduated in December and 10 days ago was selected in the Major League Soccer draft by Chivas USA, which is based in Carson, Calif. He left for the West Coast on Saturday, Jan. 23.

What makes his story more amazing is what happened his first two months at UD and what he did about it.

It’s safe to say there’s not another scholarship athlete at UD this year quite like Isaac Kissi.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2156 or tarchdeacon@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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