STATESBORO, Ga. – Soccer players are faced with a diverse medley of sources for motivation throughout their career, but one of the rarest, and arguably one of the most valuable, comes from sentimental experiences. On Wednesday, April 17th, as Tormenta FC took the field at FIU Soccer Stadium to face off against Miami FC in the Third Round of the US Open Cup, the moment was not lost on defender Nick Akoto: under the lights, playing as a professional soccer player, returning to the city in which he was born, and competing in front of his family and friends. It was a full-circle moment for Akoto, resulting from a journey that took him across the Atlantic Ocean and back again.
For the first nine years of his life, Akoto embraced soccer, playing pickup games with his friends while living in South Miami. During those formative years, the allure and enchantment of playing professional soccer quickly turned into a conviction, compelling him to sign up for competitive soccer at Pinecrest Premier Soccer Club, also based in Miami. “I wanted to be a pro since I could remember, honestly,” Akoto revealed. While challenging himself and developing as a player, Akoto would soon face the life-changing news that his family was leaving the country, heading for Ivory Coast. In just eight months, Akoto and his family would again pick up their belongings and trek over 3,000 miles north to London, where he and his family would reside throughout the rest of his school years.
Settling in London meant adjusting to a new sense of normal, a poignant reminder of his journey as a person and player. Through it all, his passion for the beautiful game never wavered, even providing a sense of consistency among the changing landscapes he witnessed in that short period of time. After Akoto and his family began to develop roots in London, Nick wasted little time in finding a home on the field, as well. Until the summer of 2017, Akoto competed with the London-based club AFC Wimbledon. It was here that Akoto experienced a core memory in his playing career: scoring a goal against Hull City in the Youth FA Cup. “The FA Youth Cup is a very important competition for us youth players in England and it’s seen as the most pivotal competition to win,” Akoto explained. Riding this experience, coupled with his growing confidence, Akoto began to believe that the next step in his journey was unfolding. “I think maybe around 18-19 years old is when I thought I can actually make a living if I focus really hard on it and apply myself,” he observed.
That focus opened up a path, resulting in him returning to the United States. Akoto spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Tennessee Wesleyan, amassing 30 appearances and scoring five goals. After transferring to Keiser University, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Akoto would get his first taste of playing in front of his family and friends since moving over a decade earlier. His time at Keiser also brought continued success, as he was a member of the 2021 NAIA National Championship team. Throughout his collegiate career, Akoto spent his summers with USL League Two clubs to gain more experience and prepare himself for the next level of competition. One of those two clubs was South Georgia Tormenta 2, where he began transitioning to the professional ranks.
“Coming to Tormenta was really important for me in taking the next step because they had a first time in the pro leagues in America and it was a very good opportunity for me to get a chance of getting seen if I played well,” Akoto noted. “While training with them during the end of the summer, I thought I had the capability of playing in USL League One and I trusted myself to be there within the next year.”
When it came time to sign his first professional contract, the pen traveled across the dotted line with additional weight, as the moment carried an emotional component with it, as well. In the months leading up to his signing, Akoto’s friend and teammate, Carter Payne, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident, which ultimately claimed his life. The toll of that moment affected Akoto deeply. So much so that Akoto has images of Payne on his custom shin guards, it’s also not uncommon to see Akoto wearing a custom Tormenta FC training kit featuring Payne’s name across the back, where Akoto’s name would typically be read. The emotional impact of that personal loss spurred a deeper commitment to growing and developing into a successful player, all while carrying Payne’s legacy every step of the way.
“Signing my first contract was really important for my family and I,” Akoto stated. “It was something I’ve worked and dreamed of doing since I was a child, so to finally achieve it was a great feeling. Also, adding the fact that it was with Tormenta FC and the summer I had with them made it more special, due to some unfortunate circumstances – losing my teammate Carter Payne. So, for me, it was to help him achieve his goal and make his family proud.”
Over the last year, Akoto has noticed his growth, as well as the commitment from the technical staff to his continued success. “Tormenta has helped me develop as a player a lot in the last year and I’ve felt myself getting closer to reaching certain goals in the near future,” Akoto observed. “The coaching staff have worked with me on certain aspects of my game, which has helped me a lot.” That growth and development was on full display as Akoto took the field in Miami, but it was the product of the journey spanning over a decade and literal thousands of miles, all culminating in his appearance back in his old stomping grounds. Ahead of the match, Akoto spoke about his anticipation leading up to the return to his birth city. “Yeah, returning to Miami is very special and playing in front of family and friends will be a great feeling,” Akoto remarked. “It’s always good to go back and play in front of people who’ve always supported you for a very long time and to be doing it in the city I was born in makes it more special.”
When the final whistle sounded, Akoto and Tormenta FC celebrated a hard fought, and emotional, 4-2 victory on the road. “I think the match was very intense,” Akoto recollected. “We started off well and then they got the equalizer and went a man down. In the second half, we knew we would have a lot of possession and just had to be patient and we knew we would eventually score. All in all, it wasn’t the prettiest of games, but in cup competitions, it’s only the result that matters to get you to the next round.”
Akoto also took time to think about the people he cared about, who were in attendance and supporting him during the match. “Playing in Miami was a great feeling,” Akoto said. “Honestly, I haven’t played in front of family and friends in years, so it was most definitely something I was proud of and hopefully can do that again soon.” He also took notice of the fans, who easily outnumbered the hosts that evening. “I mean, the fans were fantastic,” Akoto expressed. “To everyone who traveled down, or were already in Miami, we can’t be more appreciative and we recognize that they are a big part of our success.”
The connection between professional athletes and their supporters, family or otherwise, is a bond that transcends the field of play. That bond starts from their roots and grows stronger by weaving through each person, club, and community impacted by the player. Akoto is a shining example of that support, embracing both the moment of competing in a familiar city, as well as the comforting reassurance that comes with people celebrating your growth, your accomplishments, and everything else that comes with the journey.
Having progressed to the next round of the US Open Cup, Tormenta FC will now travel to Patriot’s Point Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, May 8 for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff against USL Championship club Charleston Battery.
