PEORIA, Ill. – Get to know more about Bradley Soccer Yohance Douglas.
Douglas, originally from New York, is one of the new faces in Bradley's roster.
Douglas began his soccer journey at four years old with a local team in Ossining, New York. Transitioning to White Plains Academy at 14, he played for three years before joining FC Somers Benfica. At 16, Douglas represented the New York Olympic Development Program Team, facing off against the top talent in the state.
"Growing up, I actually used to play right back. I used to be a defender, and when I was 12, the coach realized I was quick, so they put me at striker and stuff," Douglas said.
Now, Douglas plays as a winger for the Braves. He finished his first season with 367 minutes played and one assist. He looks up to players like Tajon Buchanan and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"My favorite player is Tajon Buchanan from Inter Milan. He is up and coming. He is not that [well] known, but he played at Club Brugge," Douglas said. "He has been a big inspiration for me as he came from Syracuse, so from Division I, he went to Serie A, which is obviously one of the biggest leagues in the world."
Douglas wanted to play at a professional level since little, and last year, the opportunity to represent a national team arose. He played for Guyana's U-20 team in 2023. His father is from Guyana, and his mother is from the Philippines, which allowed him to play for Guyana.
"The experience was surreal, everything about it, I felt like I was already a pro, like everything, team walks, team meals, everything is together," Douglas said. "All these guys play in England, second division, third division,"
Douglas was the second youngest in the team, and he learned a lot from the experienced players on the squad.
"All the guys were really nice to me. They said just keep pushing because I have the ability to play at that level," Douglas said. "The coaches as well, they really helped me as well,"
At Bradley, Douglas has had a great time. He shared his favorite thing about the University:
"I would say like the small campus feel, and how you know everyone and it feels like home, coming to Illinois, at first I did not know what to expect…but everyone has been pretty nice to me so far,"
Douglas is excited as Tim Regan leads the team in 2024.
"He was actually the one that recruited me to come to Bradley when I was in the transfer portal, so under him, I feel pretty confident," Douglas said. "He is a great coach and a great leader. I look up to him as well because he used to play professionally,"
Douglas has short-term goals with the Braves next year and long-term goals for his future as a professional.
"For Bradley, I want to try to help our team win the Missouri Valley Conference, or make a deep run in the playoffs for MVC, and just be a vital part of that success," Douglas said. "Long term, I want to keep playing for the national team, make many appearances, and just keep going as high as the soccer world takes me,"
Catch Douglas as he takes the field at Shea Stadium during the 2024 spring season.
