Michel L. Okai

Michel Okai (born in Monrovia, Liberia) is a Liberian soccer player currently with the New York Red Bulls Academy team. He came to the United States in September 2006 and attended Trenton Central High School (TCHS) in Trenton, New Jersey for his junior and senior years. Okai did not play soccer for TCHS his junior year because he was already an important player for the New York Red Bulls Academy U18 team. The next season he was moved to the U20 team, the same year he was a senior at TCHS. That year, Okai attempted to play for his school but could not because he never had a physical. In the process of getting his physical done Michel Okai missed five games out of the seventeen game season, meaning he only played 12 games his senior year. Nonetheless, he scored 29 goals, which lead the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) in goals. His performance also garnered several awards, including the CVC Forward of the Year, Player of the Year, first team All-State, All-State MVP, Forward of the Year, and All-CVC. His talent and skills have resulted in numerous Division I colleges scouting him, including Saint Louis University and Saint John's University. Okai never did not have enough credits to attend a Division I school because he was a student in the U.S. for just one and the half years. He decided to attend Mercer County Community College to improve his grades, and then he transfered to a four year college. He was offered a four year scholarship for soccer due to his talent, skills, and grades at Drew University Okai is presently with the Red Bulls program, while his dream is to play soccer professionally in Europe some day. His favorite soccer team in the world is Real Madrid but he also dreams of playing for AC Milan some day to continue the legacy of his countryman George Weah.