Kenyan forward switches clubs in the US
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 04.06.21. | 15:44
Former Chapa Dimba top scorer John Kato has joined Portland Pilots.
Kenyan forward John Atem Kato has been roped in by the Portland Pilots men's soccer team from the Montverde Academy in the United States of America.
Kato moved to Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA) after impressing in the 2019 Chapa Dimba tournament.
The lanky forward turned out for The Saints who bagged the Western region title and earned a place in the Chapa Dimba All-Star boys’ team that toured Spain.
Kato scored in the 5-3 to Reus Deportiu youth after bagging the Golden Boot award in the Western Region finals.
MSOC: @PilotsMSOC has added John Atem Kato to an already stellar 2021 recruiting class. Read more here:#WeArePortland | #GoPilots https://t.co/W7u9spndny
— Portland Pilots (@PortlandPilots) June 2, 2021
SIMA have had a record of thrusting Kenyans into stardom after developing Clemson sensation and Generation Adidas signing Philip Mayaka who was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the first round as the third overall pick.
Portland head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt reserved some special praise for Kato, noting that he has a bright future ahead of him after securing his services.
"We are excited to announce the signing of John Kato, who joined our program during the past signing period. The very first time I saw Kato he was running behind the line and scoring goals,”
We are very happy to announce that John Atem Kato of Kenya has verbally committed to the University of Portland!
— SIMA (@SIMA_MVAsoccer) December 17, 2020
He joins SIMA alumni Benji Michel, Caua Soares, Esteban Calvo, and Jabari Newton who have played for Coach Voight and the Pilots.#LaFamiliaSIMA #SIMAcommitments pic.twitter.com/f44Y9r2kyD
“Kato's best days are ahead of him as he transitions to the demands of the college game. Most importantly we are proud of his journey to the United States as he is a wonderful young man who is incredibly humble, determined and driven to unlock his full potential both on and off the field,”
“I know our fans and campus community will enjoy getting to know Kato's journey to Portland and he will take advantage of the opportunity presented to him. Kato is very much a team-first guy and will fit our culture here in the program,” said Carlin-Voigt.
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