(This story first published on umtermps.com)
Growing up in the slums of Uganda, Sadam Masereka saw only one way out.
Masereka comes from struggle. At various points in his childhood, he went to school barefoot, ate nothing for days and lived on the streets. But soccer gave him hope. Now, he's a star for Maryland men's soccer and one step closer to his goal of changing the trajectory of his family through earning a degree and becoming a professional athlete.
The junior forward hopes to give himself, his family and his friends a better future. He believes his story can inspire other student-athletes from similar backgrounds to keep going.
"There are a lot of talented players all over the world," Masereka said. "[For] a lot of people, it's just a thought that with the help that they need, they could become better people in life. Maybe they could become somebody. People could acquire education and go from nothing to something. I think doing good in life can motivate some people, maybe others in the streets back home, or some people can still have hope that if I made it, they can too."
Head Maryland men's soccer coach Sasho Cirovski was eager to bring Masereka to College Park. He's coached many players from Africa, and one commonality he drew between them is their humility and appreciation for the opportunity to play soccer in the United States. Masereka's demeanor is no different.
"He's a special young man because he has a wonderful heart," Cirovski said. "He's very focused on his academics and his soccer. The players love him. … He's a very endearing young man, and you just want the best for him."
A Landlocked Life
According to Global Finance Magazine, Uganda is the 24th poorest country globally, with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $3,345. Furthermore, according to the Global Organized Crime Index, the country was ranked 29th out of 193 United Nations member states in crime rate in 2023.
Disagreements and financial difficulties created problems in Masereka's household in Kampala, including causing his parents to split when he was young. He was too young to understand, but as he grew older, he realized the root of the issues.
Masereka's parents didn't receive a high level of education. His father briefly played soccer professionally but failed to manage his income. Arguments between his parents were common, as they didn't have money to support themselves, let alone their three children at the time. His two older brothers attended school but were often home because they had money they were required to pay to remain in school.
"At times, we would eat only once because we are all at home," Masereka said. "Then my mom didn't work. Only my dad used to work, but then he didn't manage his finances. I think that's why it created an argument, and then he and my mom went separate ways."
Masereka moved in with his mother, where he could no longer see his father and two brothers. He still had no consistent roof over his head — a common theme throughout childhood. He split time at his grandparents' house, where his grandpa, a tailor, cared for two girls and two boys other than him.
He eventually moved in with his grandparents in Kasese because his mom struggled to care for him. Things didn't get any easier. Sometimes, he would go to the neighbor's house, where he had friends, and have lunch. It would often be the only meal he'd consume for the day.
"Life was still very hard because we were from a lesser, small urban area to a rural area," Masereka said. "We shared a small garden with plants and maize and stuff. My grandfather used to make some money, buy rice for the family, and then we would eat on that. But still, there reached a time where we only ate porridge and bread the whole night."
Masereka and his friends were often on the streets seeking money in exchange for helping others, as many experienced similar lives at home. But one day, they all decided to run away from home. The group had nowhere to stay, but Masereka joined because he figured he could try to make money somewhere. He was just a young kid with nothing but hope.
"Some couple months I was away from my grandmother's home because I didn't know how I could survive and how we would survive all together at the same time," Masereka said.
Masereka was introduced to soccer at roughly the age of 7. When he and his friends weren't on the streets, they typically spent their days playing the sport in the nearby village. They practiced their skills on a dirt field with wooden goals. But one day while playing soccer, a director of a nearby school approached the kids.
The man began asking questions, and Masereka answered. He opened up about his difficult situation and struggles. He ended up in the man's car, where the pair continued their conversation. Ultimately, the man asked if Masereka wanted to attend his elementary school in Kasese — Infant Preparatory School.
"He said that I could play soccer," Masereka said. "[He said] that he would help me out with everything. Then I told him that would be fine, but I had to talk to my grandmother to see whether she was okay with that."
The man offered Masereka a scholarship with the contingency that he continued to pass his classes. He made the trip back home to share the news with his grandmother. She saw it as an opportunity for him to make something of himself. They wisely accepted the deal.
The director also helped Masereka with some extra pocket money. He gave him less than $5 in Ugandan money each week, just enough to buy pancakes or break-time food at school. The man even allowed him to crash at his house on the weekends with others on his school's soccer team.
Masereka learned to balance soccer and academics by observing his new friends and asking them questions. He regards one friend who helped him as his best friend — Steven Mukwala Dese. He's currently playing soccer professionally in Tanzania.
The young soccer star quickly became unstoppable on the pitch and a good student in the classroom. He later attended secondary school at Lugazi Homeland before getting into one of the best sports schools in his area — Buddo.
At Buddo Secondary School, Masereka became a Nsangi Zone Football champion, Wakiso District silver medalist, Copa Coca Cola gold medalist and East Africa (FEASSSA) Football gold medalist. He also played club soccer for several teams in the region. Most impressively, he competed for the Ugandan National Team at the U-20 and U-23 levels.
As Masereka was in the process of transferring to Buddo, his mother started earning a stable income by selling clothing and fish at street markets.
"I would see how she was driven with a desire to take care of me and help out my brothers," Masereka said. "Still to this point, she was helping out my dad and my two brothers. She's my greatest inspiration because I would see her work just to make sure that we would get something."
He continued. "The only way I could repay my mom is by being successful in all areas that I can be and making sure that I stay a good kid and help others who are in need whenever I can."
The Land of Opportunity
Masereka discovered his U-20 coach used to play soccer with his father for Express FC, a club part of the Uganda Premier League. The coach then became a mentor to him, guiding him to avoid his father's mistakes. One way Masereka sought to do that was by attending college.
"I said to him, 'I'm looking for a university that could help me further my academics after high school,'" Masereka said. "He then asked me whether I would be interested in studying here or anywhere else in the world. I said, 'Wherever an opportunity opens, then I will go. I just want to graduate and continue playing soccer.'"
The coach told Masereka the story of Micheal Azira and Musa Mawanda, two Ugandan soccer players who moved to the U.S. to further their education and play soccer. Both played at Lindsey Wilson, a small Methodist college in Columbia, Kentucky. Many of Masereka's club teammates at SC Villa also played there. Azira played in MLS, and Mawanda became a doctor.
The coach contacted Azira, who then connected Masereka with the staff at Lindsey Wilson. The Blue Raiders' coaches began recruiting Masereka. They even came to watch him play in Uganda. They eventually offered him a scholarship, which he accepted.
Masereka visited the U.S. for the first time in 2022 when he began attending Lindsey Wilson. Despite competing at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level, Lindsey Wilson boasts a powerhouse men's soccer program. They're nine-time national champions and 16-time Mid-South Conference (MSC) Championships, producing over 80 All-Americans.
"When I came to the U.S., I came with a mind that if I did well, I could acquire my education from the best country in the world," Masereka said. "At the same time, I could hit my dream of becoming a professional soccer player to support my family back home or maybe change my family's background."
It took Masereka some time to adjust to the academics and athletics in the U.S. Local and international student-athletes showed him the ropes. He explained that one of the drastic changes in soccer was the match stoppage because of thunder and lightning. In Uganda, matches continued through such weather conditions.
Masereka developed into a dynamic attacking player. His quick dribbling and ability to make good decisions and switch the ball from side to side produced 22 goals and seven assists in two seasons at Lindsey Wilson.
He was named two-time First-Team All-MSC, a 2023 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and a 2022 NAIA Men's Soccer First-Team All-American. He also earned 2022 MSC Freshman of the Year honors. In 2022, his team won the MSC Tournament and reached the NAIA tournament semifinals.
Masereka says he gave it his all at Lindsey Wilson. It was easy for him to focus on his dream because he was in a small town with little to do outside his sport. He loved where he was but wanted to see if there were open doors elsewhere. He started researching schools before entering the transfer portal or even knowing if other schools were interested in him.
One of the schools Masereka examined was the University of Maryland. He saw many people who had gone through its soccer program and the university itself. He was amazed to see their success through playing sports professionally and delving into other careers.
He entered the transfer portal and prayed schools would contact him. He then randomly received a call from a friend, saying that Maryland was asking about him. Brian Rowland, an assistant coach at Maryland, later contacted him. Rowland says there were many other schools interested in Masereka, but Masereka says Maryland was the one place he wanted to be.
"He's a kid that you want to root for," Rowland said. "He has a purpose and knows what he wants to do. He knows what his goals are, and he certainly keeps himself motivated. We've gotten to know him a lot better. His personality is bubbly, and he's a connector."
Masereka chose Maryland because he believed the school gave him the best opportunity to achieve his athletic and academic goals. An economics major, the 5-foot-9, 150-pound junior forward scored his first career goal in a Maryland uniform against Michigan State on Oct. 5. The score was the game-winner, putting the Terps ahead 2-1 in the 83rd minute. He added another score two games later in Maryland's 2-0 win over George Mason on Oct. 15.
"It was one of those moments that you truly appreciate because he's earned the right to have that," Cirovski said, referring to Masereka's first career goal. "He's worked very hard. He's come so close. … I also loved that he led the Ludwig lap, and you could see the joy on his face. It's one of the reasons he came here — to have moments like that. Hopefully, it's the first of many more."
In College Park, Masereka is one step closer to giving his family and friends a better life. He's proud of how far he's come but hasn't become complacent. A green and yellow jersey hangs on the wall of his apartment room. It was worn by his father and passed down to him. The jersey is a reminder of his purpose, motivating him to succeed.
"The core thing that motivates me a lot is my family and some friends that I still have back home," Masereka said. "If I make it in life, I'll have to give back to them because their prayers send me wishes and belief, which motivates me more than anything."
