Most athletes start their journey to glory in their primary school years but for boys varsity soccer player Mohammad Hamad, a late start pushed him to work harder to become one of the best— now he is being recognized for it.

At the late age of 11, Hamad was introduced to the sport by his neighbor and best friend Tyler Laub.

“One day I needed another player to play on my select team and I decided to get Mohammad,” Laub said. “I brought him to the game, gave him cleats and a jersey, and he scored and got an assist in his first game.”

After that Laub said that teaching Hamad was “easy” and soon enough Hamad was surpassing Laub’s capabilities, even though he had a couple more years of experience on Hamad.

Although he got better over time, Hamad faced many challenges in the beginning because he was behind the skill set of every other player his age.

“I wanted to just give up because I felt like I wasn’t meant for (soccer),” Hamad said. “But as time went on, I just practiced on my own and soon enough I was three steps ahead of people at the game.”

By freshman year he had learned the ways of the game and had risen to the top but, unfortunately, he broke his wrist and sat out part of his first season on the varsity team.

Because of the perseverance he had acquired a few years before, Hamad only worked harder and was able to come back the next three years and start for the varsity team as their left midfielder.

Now in his senior year, Hamad had been able to add to his accomplishments by making the IHSA state competition (all-state).

According to Hamad, Illinois soccer coaches from Division 3A “get together and vote” on the best players throughout the state no matter what position they play.

This year there were five players who were ranked and Hamad was the second highest voted player to make all-state.

According to www.ihssa.com, in mid-November Hamad will have to travel up to the Chicago area where he will accept his plaque and certificate at a ceremony honoring his and other state champion’s titles.

But to Hamad, that’s not the best part.

“(The best part) is that I’m someone from Edwardsville High School that represents who we really are,” Hamad said. “Talent is what we stand for, along with other things.”

Hamad said that he plans on pursuing his love of soccer at the college level and into the professional ranks where he is already being scouted by a  Las Vegas team.

“I’m still deciding (where I’m going to college) but as for the professional team, it doesn’t really matter to me,” he said. “I’m just hoping to go big and have people know my name.”

Hamad is grateful for what he has accomplished so far and he credits his success to the one who sparked his flame.

However, Laub disagrees.

“I can only say that I brought him into the game and taught him the basics,” Laub said. “The player he is today is because of him and his passion for the game.”