Cate High School soccer star signs with Portland

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The University of Portland men's soccer program has made another addition as Buba Fofanah has committed to the Pilots, announced head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt. Originally from Kenema, Sierra Leone, Fofanah comes to The Bluff from Santa Barbara, Calif., where he was a standout on the pitch for the Cate School Rams.

"Buba is going to be a great addition to our greater University community as he is a very grateful, humble, and hard-working student-athlete," Carlin-Voigt said. "Buba is a special person who can light up a room with his smile and personality. In the classroom, Buba understands the opportunity at hand to continue to grow and develop scholastically here on the Bluff."

A two-time All-Tri-Valley League First Team selection, Fofanah was named the conference player of the year, and he was named to the All-CIF First Team. He led the team in goals three times, twice he was tops in assists, and he garnered Allstate All-America recognition as a junior. The Rams went undefeated in league en route to the Tri-Valley Championship, and they reached the CIF Playoffs in 2018-19.

Fofanah won the 2001 Boys ODP Nationals Championships in 2017, and he was named to the ODP All-Tournament Team in 2017 and 2018.

"On the Field, Buba is a striker who has pace and power to stretch the game," added Carlin-Voigt. "We think his best is ahead and once he adapts to our daily competitive environment he will improve tactically and technically. Special credit to Austin Nyquist for being the point person in his recruitment to Portland. We are excited to see Buba develop over the next four years in the Portland uniform."

Fofanah joins Portland's sixth-ranked (Top Drawer Soccer) recruiting class, which will be announced in its entirety during the upcoming weeks.

Article courtesy of Portland Athletics