Freshman Miguel Hof started playing as the goalkeeper for Lipscomb’s soccer team in the fall of 2012 largely because a video caught the attention of coach Charles Morrow.
The video, revealing Hof’s soccer skills, traveled from Cape Town, South Africa, to the United States.
“What we saw in the video: number one, he controlled his box really well,” said Morrow, speaking of the area around the goal.
Hof soon followed after a phone call from Morrow.
“[Morrow] gave me a call and he asked me if I wanted to come play for Lipscomb in the States,” said Hof.
That call would change the soccer player’s future.
Hof was 5 when he started playing soccer. In Cape Town, kids usually spend their free time outdoors playing sports, with soccer being among the most popular choices.
Hof began his soccer career as left wing, but it didn’t take long for serendipity and his coach’s intervention to change his position. He soon discovered his great passion was to defend the goal.
“They needed a keeper, so the coach decided to put me in the goal, and that worked out pretty good,” Hof said.
Since that moment, Hof took ownership of the goal. After being selected to be part of the team at Lipscomb, the goalkeeper moved from his hometown in South Africa to pursue a degree in business while refining his game.
Being away from home might not be easy for Hof and his family, but he keeps focused on the positive side. He said it is not only good for him to be here because of the soccer experience, but also for the life experience.
“I don’t think I would get the same opportunities in South Africa that I would get here,” he said.
South Africa’s economy shows a gap between rich and poor. Segregation and racial issues create different level of opportunities for the population, according to Hof.
Unlike America, where African Americans are a minority, in South Africa, white people represent a small portion of the residents. The census of 2011 shows that 79.2 percent of the population is black and 8.9 percent is white.
According to Jessica Burke, a junior at Lipscomb and also Miguel’s fellow citizen, there is an emerging class in South Africa that is displacing the jobs for white people.
“If I had gone for example to law school in South Africa, I would’ve gotten a great education, but I wouldn’t have gotten a job because I am white, and I am a minority,” claims Burke.
Hof knew how to take advantage of the possibilities that America gave him. But not everything was smooth and easy in the land of opportunities.
He had a rough start, because of two concussions he suffered during games late in the 2012 season, Morrow said.
Regardless of the injuries, Hof has flourished as goalkeeper.
“Miguel has done well to win the number one position and is looking forward to a good sophomore season,” Morrow said. “There is no joke-around-at-practice with Miguel.”
Hof has been working since he was a kid to be where he is today.
“My dad used to stand with a ball bag down the pitch, and I would try to kick the ball into the bag to improve the placement of the kicks,” Hof said.
Effort and dedication are two qualities that he never leaves in the locker room. From the training he used to have with his dad to the challenging workout sessions, he has at Lipscomb, Hof has never gave up in the journey to accomplish his dream.
“I want to become a professional goalkeeper,” said Hof. “I want to make it my profession.”