Photo by Janson
By Angela Brunk
David Mlendja a senior at Wichita Southeast High School, is ready to step on the soccer field one last season for his high school. Mlendja is the goalkeeper for the team, and this year Mlendja’s goal is clear. He wants to win the state championship.
Last season the team showed a lot of heart but fell short in a few key moments. Mlendja shared how the team wants to “fix our mistakes from the last season, so we can do better this year.” One thing Mlendja is really looking forward to this season is starting strong in every game and not waiting for the other team to score first. Mlendja and teammates plan to set the tone and control the matchup from the beginning.
Some challenges the team is facing this season include building good communication and integrating new players into the team. Mlendja has high hopes the communication will improve quickly and the team will build chemistry early in the season.
This past spring, Mlendja joined Sporting Wichita Academy to train with other high school players and goalkeepers. “During the spring training I learned a lot of skill that I was not able to learn by myself till I joined goalkeeper training.”
Last year was a highlight for Mlendja. The team had a strong team mindset and played like a family. The captain, Diego, was a true leader and motivational speaker of the team which helped the team become stronger during the season.
Looking ahead, Mlendja is undecided on a college, but the dream is clear for Mlendja, “I want to be a professional soccer player.” This goalkeeper is one to keep eyes on this season.
