 with the number four overall selection of the 2023 MLS Superdraft presented by Adidas. The New England Revolution select a midfielder and generation of Adidas signing from the University of Maryland, Josh Bulma. This is no surprise, that's four for four and Bulma, a highly rated guy. Sascha Serovsky has said, whoa, he's one of the best I've had. We're for that bagel, get it one day, you can break it. I bless I owe. After Joshua Bulma's name was announced, a sports bar in New York erupted into cheers. The 21 year old forward gathered his family and friends to enjoy a moment of a lifetime. He had dreamed of this since he was a young boy. But when was his dream born? Let's go back. We are now in Accra, Ghana. A 13 hour and 35 minute flight away from Boston. Ghana is the home to international star athletes, especially football players. Americans call it soccer. Bulma is outside of his home, doing what most eight year olds do, play all day. Not even knowing who may be watching. His coach saw me and he thought, oh, this kid might have some talent. He might have some, you know, something big. So, you know, he brought me my first cleats and, you know, that was my first, you know, soccer memory. And that's when I really started playing soccer in a very serious way and like joined a, you know, organized club and everything. And, you know, that was just the start of the journey. The rest of his journey can inspire a nation. Bulma grew up in a household where education came first. At the same time, his parents stressed the importance of having a strong faith in God and working hard. With all these combined, he was exposed to life changing opportunities. He joined the Rising Stars in Africa program, which trains gifted soccer players across the continent. Like a star, he shined. He got the attention of coach Owen Finberg, who coached that South Kent Academy for 19 years. A private all boys boarding school in Connecticut. Pretty early during that time period, it was, was easy to tell that, you know, Joshua had certainly some special talents soccer wise. But I think more than that was a very focused and humble young man. And, you know, it could tell how to real desire for getting the most out of himself and, you know, trying to do what he could with his talent to, you know, to make something of it that would, would open up some different opportunities for, for him. And he came to my house, met my family. That was super great. Cause obviously like my family is about coming down and I had to come up here. So he kind of served as a father figure to be honest for me, like coming to America and like, as well as my coach, he just helped me do everything and got me in touch with my host family and everything else. Many parents put their children on a yellow cheese bus to go to high school, not usually a plane, especially if the plane is crossing the North Atlantic Ocean into a different country. I don't know about you, but it couldn't be me. Boma packed up and flew almost 15 hours away for preseason. I got to JFK and got up the plane and I was like, wow, like they didn't want me. I mean, they told me it was going to be around like in the 2030 degree, but obviously we used Celsius in Ghana. So I was confused as to what they meant by that. So I just wore like a little flannel and then like a khaki pants thinking, oh, it's going to be 20 degrees. You know, so I'm like, it's nice. So I get down and I'm like, nah, this is not 20 degrees. As soon as he got off the plane here in the U.S., he he was driven straight to campus and then was put right into my room. And that was the beginning. I think the first memory I have of him and I was that night. He didn't have anything for like his bedding. So I had my mom run from home to bring him pillows and blankets. That was Landon Sartori, his teammate and friend from Lakeville, Connecticut. His family treated Boma as one of their own. They were the host family. He didn't know he needed. The relationship goes way back like the first day of high school was when we kind of just clicked and bonded and just became friends. We did everything like we played at South Canyon together. We played at Black Rock together. We were training that whole COVID period because it's just us like we couldn't come in contact with people. So it was just two of us just grinding it out. And I remember all those days, like it was, it was a lot of work and kind of built a bond just going to last a lifetime for sure. Coach Owen emphasized team chemistry. The team ate meals together, study halls, road trips, celebrated birthdays and went through tough times together. Their bond contributed to their success on the field. Boma was very strong academically and graduated high school early. After choosing from a list of 10 schools, Boma committed to the University of Maryland. He did not compete his first season, but instead train at a completely different level. So I got in and I saw the whole thing and I was totally blown away because like it's like you're playing with a man now like guys like 24, 25, you know, like quarter guys and stuff like that. And guys were like built like you see like six foot whatever three like guys 300 pounds not 300 pounds is a drag book. Like really big guys. Yeah. And that kind of like took me by surprise. I was like, wow, so it's really like, you know, the next step like this is it really like I kind of took on the challenge at 20 years old. Boma was named Big 10 freshman of the year. He had 18 appearances during his first official season for goals. Later, he found himself at the MLS combined ready for the next step. Even though he performed well, it was agreed upon that he needed another year in college. You know, he had been to the MLS combined the year before and he was the number one freshman in the country. And, you know, certainly I felt, you know, was talented enough to be a pro. But, you know, the teams wanted him to go back to college for one more year. And, you know, but then, you know, it was pretty evident that that he was going to be selected. He got offered a Generation Adidas contract, which means basically that, you know, some of the top teams in the draft order were going to select him if he was available to them. I was open-minded, whatever that came through, I was ready for it. And it came that I had to go back. So I was like, just go back, run it back. I wasn't even really thinking about the draft like that. Because my first time I was really pushing for that draft and I saw that maybe when I do that too much might affect the way that I perform on the field and I might, you know, end up not making me get to that point. So what I could do is try to help the team win. And he did just that. In his second season, an assist from Bulma helped the team win the conference championship. I kind of sprung out wide. So my teammate found me, took the ball, and I looked up. I saw like multiple of our guys in the box. And I was like, you know, just put this back post. Just give your teammates a chance to kind of, you know, do something with this ball and see what happens. So I just, you know, I just whipped it in there. And before I knew it, one of my teammates, Stephen Capetti, like I know that's like one of the greatest moments in his life. But yeah, he met the ball at her own far post, Goliath no chance. And then it was just a surreal feeling. We're back at where we began draft day 2023. It's in the mid fifties. Chinatown is booming and the vibes are high. The New England Revolution shoots their shot at the left wing attacker. It makes it. You know, me personally, like it just kind of took me back to my days and gone on Academy and stuff like that. And all the things that I really sacrificed and put into it. And I just talking to family back home and like having them also share that moment with me from far away. It was just a surreal feeling. Like I don't know how to describe that one, but it was definitely like top of the list. I believe they had the 11th or 10th pick and they actually traded up to get him. So it was out of the blue and we had scarves for him. And I had five scarves in my hand of the teams that were supposed to pick him. And then the revs traded up and we're like, no way. This can't be real. It's exciting. Did you have a rev scarf? Yeah, we did, but we put like all the ones aside that we didn't think we're going to call him. So I had a half full of a few and then all that happened. I had to scurry over and grab it, but it was definitely the perfect scenario. Bulma's professional debut was an unforgettable day. All of his supporters gathered outside the stadium to tailgate before the game. Coach Owen interviewed Landon for an Instagram video. They spoke his debut into existence. And how are you feeling about Gillette Stadium and seeing your classmate Joshua Bulma tonight? Yeah, it's awesome. I mean, when you work with guys like him, you can play here. Could be a MLS league debut tonight. What do you think? He's got it in the cards. I hope so. Yeah, it's about time. Him and I were like, we kind of looked at each other and we were kind of picturing it. Be the perfect moment. And then it was so blue. Game started and I think it was tied. They were, they were going back and forth. He went to the center to get something and we knew. I was going in and they were sitting in the suite. So like I kind of just looked over and like I was like, yeah, you know, like this is some reason that, you know, they here to witness this right now. Brought to make my first MLS debut. Good crowd I had, you know, undefeated. Let's keep going, man. Let's keep stacking them up. Go Rebs. Gillette Stadium was filled with love, support and applause. Bulma performed well in the second half. As the season continued, the Rebs went through a few tough coaching changes. Bulma then spent more of his time playing with the second team. League's fifth leading goal scorer. What a pass to Bulma. Bulma! England! Add a bio, Smith, a delightful pass and a majestic strike from Bulma opens the scoring in the 40th minute. One of the things that makes a huge difference in your professional career is do you get the opportunity to show what you can do? And, you know, that's obviously the stage that he's at now. He's had a good sort of lead in, but now it's about, you know, getting on the field and producing. And that will determine a long way to what the next few years hold for him. He has so much potential to go play at a higher level in Europe or for his national team eventually that I just think this is only the beginning. I've worked with him. I said for, we practice for, I don't know how many hours out on that, my local field here. And I just, I just know he has so much more than what he's bringing right now. So everyone's got to watch out because I know what he can do. And hopefully he gets the opportunity soon. Bulma began playing soccer at five years old. Now he's 21, a professional soccer player and still pursuing his college degree. One thing Coach Owen said that really stuck with me was his focus and determination matched his talent. In other words, talent is simply not enough. I asked Bulma, what does it take to be a pro? Being ready to learn that that could take you a long way. And I'll say just work hard, man. Like hard work, obviously. People have mentioned that a lot, but it's really true. Like whatever you saw, you're going to read that. So just put it in the time and you're going to get it back for sure. So just wake up, just be ready to work hard. I'll say prayer, prayer as well. Just pray because God, you know, the one is the ultimate coach, ultimate decider. So everything that you do, just make sure like he's involved. My name is Tyra Brooks, Boston University New Service. It's been my pleasure.