Junior Beshoy Eldaif has played competitive soccer since he was 6 years old. He now travels across the country, playing games at the highest level youth club soccer has to offer.
Eldaif kicked off his career at the popular Metro Atlanta youth soccer academy, Inter Atlanta Football Club, before playing for two other clubs: Concord Fire and Southern Soccer Academy, where he currently plays for their U19 Major League Soccer NEXT team.
“Beshoy’s been passionate about soccer ever since he was little,” Beshoy’s father, Shady Eldaif said. “He would beg me to stay even after his training was over just to get more practice in.”
Eldaif said his love of the sport has only grown as he continues to play.
“I honestly don’t know what I would do with my life if I didn’t have soccer,” Eldaif said. “Practicing during the week and playing games on the weekend are all I think about during an actual school day.”
After completing his second season under the MLS NEXT program last year, the official MLS affiliate youth soccer league, Eldaif feels he improved significantly.
“The level of intensity that [MLS NEXT] requires is unlike any other soccer I’ve ever played,” Eldaif said. “I learned a lot this past season, playing against and with some of the best players my age in the country every week definitely helped me improve.”
Eldaif’s club coach, Barker Gary, said he was able to see big changes in Eldaif’s game after he changed field positions.
“Soccer is a sport where you have to be flexible and able to play [in] multiple different areas,” Gary said. “Beshoy came into our team originally as a midfielder, but as the season went on we decided that a transition to left back was best for his and the team’s development. He was able to adapt quickly and has really thrived this season in that area of the field.”
Eldaif said being a straight-A student athlete comes with a busy schedule.
“I have practice for two hours, four times a week. When I don’t have practice, I have private lessons which are pretty hard. We have to watch film of games [during] our own time,” Eldaif said. “It’s a pretty big time commitment with school, but it’s what I want to do in my future.”
Shady Eldaif admires Beshoy’s ability to be a role model both on and off the field.
“Beshoy has set a really good example for both his brother and his smaller cousins,” Eldaif said. “He’s maintained great grades, better than mine when I was his age, and has worked really hard to become a better player. His brother follows his example so I think it’s really great for both of them.”
Due to MLS restrictions Eldaif will not be able to play for the high school team. Midtown player senior Jonathan Steiding says Eldaif could help the team significantly next year if he plays.
“Beshoy could’ve been a solid starter for us even when he was a freshman, and he’s improved a ton since then,” Steiding said. “Obviously me and a few of the other seniors are trying to get him to play this year, but he doesn’t want to get in trouble with SSA (southern soccer academy), so I guess his debut could be next year. Can’t wait to see what he does.”
Eldaif aspires to pursue collegiate soccer in the future.
“Going to college for soccer is my number one goal for the future,” Eldaif said. “I know my ability is good enough, and hopefully if I keep working hard one day I’ll be playing at that level.”
Friend and former teammate, junior James Kropp, admires his dedication on and off the field.
“Beshoy is competitive when it comes to soccer,” Kropp said. “When we used to be on the same teams when we were younger he would always try to motivate me to push myself and get better, he wants everyone to work hard.”
With the new MLS NEXT season in full swing, Eldaif will compete in the U19 Southeast division, and he is looking forward to what the future holds for him.
“I’m ready for the rest of this season; my goal is to win enough of our games to win our division,” Eldaif said. “I have great teammates and a great coach, so hopefully we can all have a successful end to the first half of the season.”
