PEORIA, Ill. – Get to know more about Bradley Soccer DJ Koulai.
Koulai, originally from West Africa, was one of the newest additions to the team during the 2023 season.
Growing up, Koulai played in a different position but realized scoring goals can have a superior impact on the outcome of games. Koulai now plays as a striker for the Braves.
"When I was in elementary school, I thought I could play as a goalkeeper, but I was just getting mad every time someone scored on me," Koulai said. "So I decided to be a striker so I can be the one that scores goals and helps the team win,"
Koulai's soccer journey began in the streets of Africa, where he sharpened his skills before joining Faras Academy when he was 14. A year later, he moved to Dallas, United States, where he made his mark at Louisville High School for three years. At the same time, Koulai found himself representing Borussia Dortmund Academy, further solidifying his reputation as a high school rising star.
Koulai Committed to Bradley, and after his first season, he was selected as part of the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer All-Freshman team. He played 17 games and finished with one goal and three assists.
Adapting to a new environment was not easy for Koulai, but everyone around him helped him get to where he is now.
"It was difficult leaving your country, coming to another country, different culture, different language, so it was hard for me to adapt," Koulai said. "It was hard, but whenever you are here for a long time, you start to get used to it and everything starts to get easier,"
Koulai believes the best part about his experience at Bradley is the people around him who always try to help him become a better person and student-athlete.
"The people at Bradley are all really kind. It is hard to judge people before you even know them," Koulai said. "Outside of soccer, you go to class, you find nice people, people who really care about you, people that are willing to help you no matter what,"
Koulai's first season as a Brave saw many memorable moments, from scoring his first goal to getting recognized at the end of the season. However, his favorite memory has to do with more than just soccer.
"I would say our game against Mercer, it was a very emotional moment, playing for the memory of Danny Dahlquist," Koulai said. "When Jared scored the goal, everyone was happy even though we did not get a win. I was feeling that it was more than just about winning,"
Koulai is excited about next season and has an objective in mind. He is excited to see what Tim Regan can bring to the team next season and believes the squad is working hard towards a common goal.
"My objective is to make it to the [Missouri] Valley Conference [Playoffs] and hopefully win the conference and maybe go into the NCAA tournament," Koulai said. "As a team, we have that goal, and I will say that goal is just trying to get better and better every day… My goal is to make it as far as possible,"
