It took one attacking run in the first five minutes of Raymond Drai’s professional career and he made an impact on the field for the Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) in their last 2020 USL Championship regular season match against Las Vegas Lights FC in October.
Drai received the ball in the attacking half on the far sideline and took the defender one-on-one all the way into the penalty area. He cut back inside and had the defender beat, though the defender attempted to slide tackle for the ball. Instead, he brought Drai down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot to signal the penalty kick which ensured OCSC a fourth goal and sealed the victory.
“I just came in with the mindset that I have to make something happen in this game,” Drai said. “It doesn't matter how old I am, I don't care, I'm just going to go ahead and do my thing. To be honest, I did want to score, but we still got something out of it.”
16-year-old Raymond Drai makes professional debut.
Drai is one of the highly skilled teenagers that are rostered by OCSC this season. Signed by the club in September 2020, the attacking midfielder’s debut against Las Vegas was his only appearance of a season marred by empty stadiums and a pandemic. Though, for Drai, it marked a quick transition from youth club and academy soccer to professional soccer before turning 17 years old.
It took one attacking run in the first five minutes of Raymond Drai’s professional career and he made an impact on the field for the Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) in their last 2020 USL Championship regular season match against Las Vegas Lights FC in October.
Drai received the ball in the attacking half on the far sideline and took the defender one-on-one all the way into the penalty area. He cut back inside and had the defender beat, though the defender attempted to slide tackle for the ball. Instead, he brought Drai down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot to signal the penalty kick which ensured OCSC a fourth goal and sealed the victory.
“I just came in with the mindset that I have to make something happen in this game,” Drai said. “It doesn’t matter how old I am, I don’t care, I’m just going to go ahead and do my thing. To be honest, I did want to score, but we still got something out of it.”
16-year-old Raymond Drai makes professional debut.
Drai is one of the highly skilled teenagers that are rostered by OCSC this season. Signed by the club in September 2020, the attacking midfielder’s debut against Las Vegas was his only appearance of a season marred by empty stadiums and a pandemic. Though, for Drai, it marked a quick transition from youth club and academy soccer to professional soccer before turning 17 years old.
Prior to joining OCSC, Drai played for Real SoCal in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy where he was on teams in higher age divisions. This allowed Drai to play against older competition and increase visibility to possible academy or professional scouts.
At one tournament, USL League 2 club FC Golden State Force scouts noticed Drai and eventually asked him to be a guest player for their academy squad at the 2019 USL Academy Cup Western Conference Regional Event in San Antonio, TX. At the same tournament, OCSC fielded a U-17 Boys team which featured current senior team midfielder Francis Jacobs and forward Sean McTague.
“My current club at the time had a two week break from the games, so I was like instead of not doing anything, I took this opportunity to just go ahead and play,” Drai said. “My dad told me to go and I just went with the team, which I really liked because they were supportive and helped me adapt.”
In San Antonio, Drai scored a hat trick in a game against USL Championship side Austin Bold FC’s academy squad. His strong performance at the Academy Cup was a step in the right direction and another chance to expose himself to the professional soccer environment.
“It is a really good tournament by the USL,” Drai said. “You have a lot of eyes watching you, so you have to show up. It makes me feel good that I had that experience, and seeing that the girls [OCSC] Academy team winning this year’s Academy Cup was also really cool.”
Following the success from the USL Academy Cup, Drai went to England for a trial stint with two historic clubs in English football, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Fulham F.C.. It was at this time that the pandemic forced him to cut the trial short and return home where he had to train on his own. In addition, it tested this teenager’s mental strength as it was during a time of change and flexibility.
“It felt like a rollercoaster having to stop everything after building momentum in Europe,” Drai said. “I had no team when I came back to the U.S., so I needed to train by myself and do as much as I could with what I had. It is all part of the job that requires me to always keep moving forward.”
Of course, his hard work paid off. OCSC took interest in the Southern California product and Drai took interest in them, highlighting the club’s dedication to developing young talent in recent history. It was a chance for Drai to start his professional career, not too far from where he grew up taking his first steps in his soccer journey.
Prior to joining OCSC, Drai played for Real SoCal in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy where he was on teams in higher age divisions. This allowed Drai to play against older competition and increase visibility to possible academy or professional scouts.
At one tournament, USL League 2 club FC Golden State Force scouts noticed Drai and eventually asked him to be a guest player for their academy squad at the 2019 USL Academy Cup Western Conference Regional Event in San Antonio, TX. At the same tournament, OCSC fielded a U-17 Boys team which featured current senior team midfielder Francis Jacobs and forward Sean McTague.
“My current club at the time had a two week break from the games, so I was like instead of not doing anything, I took this opportunity to just go ahead and play,” Drai said. “My dad told me to go and I just went with the team, which I really liked because they were supportive and helped me adapt.”
In San Antonio, Drai scored a hat trick in a game against USL Championship side Austin Bold FC’s academy squad. His strong performance at the Academy Cup was a step in the right direction and another chance to expose himself to the professional soccer environment.
“It is a really good tournament by the USL,” Drai said. “You have a lot of eyes watching you, so you have to show up. It makes me feel good that I had that experience, and seeing that the girls [OCSC] Academy team winning this year’s Academy Cup was also really cool.”
Following the success from the USL Academy Cup, Drai went to England for a trial stint with two historic clubs in English football, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Fulham F.C.. It was at this time that the pandemic forced him to cut the trial short and return home where he had to train on his own. In addition, it tested this teenager’s mental strength as it was during a time of change and flexibility.
“It felt like a rollercoaster having to stop everything after building momentum in Europe,” Drai said. “I had no team when I came back to the U.S., so I needed to train by myself and do as much as I could with what I had. It is all part of the job that requires me to always keep moving forward.”
Of course, his hard work paid off. OCSC took interest in the Southern California product and Drai took interest in them, highlighting the club’s dedication to developing young talent in recent history. It was a chance for Drai to start his professional career, not too far from where he grew up taking his first steps in his soccer journey.
Born in Woodland Hills, CA, Drai started playing soccer at the young age of three. He continued playing with local youth clubs for several years until his family moved to Israel due to his father’s work.
Despite moving abroad, he continued to play soccer in the youth system of Maccabi Netanya, a first division professional club in the Israeli Premier League. There he gained valuable experience in a professional setting that still impacts him to this day.
“I really enjoyed playing there and even after I left the coaches remained in touch with me,” Drai said. “They ask me how I train, how I play, and it shows their interest in my development. I appreciate all of them, including my old teammates.”
When he returned to the States, Drai continued to pursue soccer and rose up the age ranks. The thought of professional soccer was always something that Drai wanted to realize, he just needed to make a decision to take an uncommon path for American teenagers.
“It did take a lot to decide to not forgo college, because my older sisters went to college and so are my little sisters,” Drai said. “My mom wanted me to do college, but I told her how I wanted to do bigger things and she understood and supported me.”
Outside of soccer, Drai spends time studying and being with his younger teammates. He is enrolled in an independent study program to get his high school diploma which he will earn by next spring.
Born in Woodland Hills, CA, Drai started playing soccer at the young age of three. He continued playing with local youth clubs for several years until his family moved to Israel due to his father’s work.
Despite moving abroad, he continued to play soccer in the youth system of Maccabi Netanya, a first division professional club in the Israeli Premier League. There he gained valuable experience in a professional setting that still impacts him to this day.
“I really enjoyed playing there and even after I left the coaches remained in touch with me,” Drai said. “They ask me how I train, how I play, and it shows their interest in my development. I appreciate all of them, including my old teammates.”
When he returned to the States, Drai continued to pursue soccer and rose up the age ranks. The thought of professional soccer was always something that Drai wanted to realize, he just needed to make a decision to take an uncommon path for American teenagers.
“It did take a lot to decide to not forgo college, because my older sisters went to college and so are my little sisters,” Drai said. “My mom wanted me to do college, but I told her how I wanted to do bigger things and she understood and supported me.”
Outside of soccer, Drai spends time studying and being with his younger teammates. He is enrolled in an independent study program to get his high school diploma which he will earn by next spring.
When not training, studying or catching up with friends from the San Fernando Valley, Drai spends time with his teammates talking about soccer and exploring Orange County.
“It is really great to be around my teammates, especially the ones I live with because we continue to practice communication off the field,” Drai said. “We reflect on the day and see where we can improve and build from for the next time. And of course, they're a fun group to go to the beach or Irvine Spectrum.”
Drai understands that he is in a unique position with being a professional athlete at a young age. A decision that was made by him with the support of his family. It is a part of who he is on and off the field.
As the season gets into full swing, Drai has made his return to the team after a small groin injury kept him out of the opening fixtures. Now, whenever he gets the opportunity, Drai will make sure he does whatever it takes to help his team and make an impact.
“Although I am young, I have been through a fair amount of learning experiences and adversity which has helped me become mentally strong,” Drai said. “I remember that I am still learning, which will allow me to grow and accomplish a lot with OCSC this season.”
OCSC x Rangers FC Camp
Raymond Drai is proof that your #PathwayToPro dream can come true too. That all starts with our OCSC x Rangers FC camps. Learn more.
When not training, studying or catching up with friends from the San Fernando Valley, Drai spends time with his teammates talking about soccer and exploring Orange County.
“It is really great to be around my teammates, especially the ones I live with because we continue to practice communication off the field,” Drai said. “We reflect on the day and see where we can improve and build from for the next time. And of course, they’re a fun group to go to the beach or Irvine Spectrum.”
Drai understands that he is in a unique position with being a professional athlete at a young age. A decision that was made by him with the support of his family. It is a part of who he is on and off the field.
As the season gets into full swing, Drai has made his return to the team after a small groin injury kept him out of the opening fixtures. Now, whenever he gets the opportunity, Drai will make sure he does whatever it takes to help his team and make an impact.
“Although I am young, I have been through a fair amount of learning experiences and adversity which has helped me become mentally strong,” Drai said. “I remember that I am still learning, which will allow me to grow and accomplish a lot with OCSC this season.”
OCSC x Rangers FC Camp
Raymond Drai is proof that your #PathwayToPro dream can come true too. That all starts with our OCSC x Rangers FC camps. Learn more.