How Oakland soccer's Koen Brewer landed opportunity to join England's Academy of West Ham
Grant Brewer admits that the thought of sending his 17-year-old son overseas to England for nine months came with a little trepidation.
But the opportunities his son, Oakland junior soccer defender Koen Brewer, will have there far outweigh those concerns.
Koen Brewer has been awarded the rare opportunity to join the prestigious Academy of West Ham United F.C. beginning in September to spend in London what would have been his senior year of high school.
"Very, very few (Americans are chosen to attend the academy)," said Grant Brewer, on Koen being accepted into the 18-under academy, which has produced numerous top soccer players over the years. "Obviously there's worries. But his mom and I look at it like he's going to college a year early. It's still worrisome because he's our child. It's not like he's just going to a college, where I could jump in my truck (to visit)."
Grant said his son has the maturity to spend the year overseas. That's evident by the fact Koen will graduate from Oakland a year early, walking the line in May, just two months after he turns 17.
"I’ll be leaving some comfortable surroundings I’m used to," said Brewer, who will be living with a host family. "I'll be going out into the world for the first time. I know that the academy will provide me the right surroundings I need to continue to grow as a human, as well as a soccer player."
Being accepted into the academy is something Koen is still wrapping his head around as he now embarks on his final few weeks in high school.
"I'm obviously very excited," he said. "It's a huge, very unique opportunity. I hadn't exactly foreseen this part of my future. It's a great opportunity for me to go play and grow in a unique way. I'll do the best I can to put my best foot forward, making it into the professional scene over there."
West Ham has extensive interview process
Brewer first learned of the opportunity to apply for the academy while in England in November to train at West Ham as part of a trip organized by Global Image Sports.
"Throughout the game (a friendly vs. the international academy team on the final day of training), I impressed the coaches with my leadership ability and overall play," Brewer said. "From there they wanted to get in contact and see if it would be a good (fit). From there they wanted to see some more film. They wanted to grade all the traits of my game."
His play on the field was not the only quality West Ham was seeking. In February he did an extensive interview, spending hours on a Zoom call with coaches and administrators who focused on character and other personality traits.
"They wanted to know who I was as a person, making sure they're bringing in the right person," Brewer said. "It was multiple hours of getting to know me, my habits, inside and outside of soccer. They went over distractions. They wanted to know what my screen time (on the phone) was like, what sort of things I was spending it on."
The interview went well enough that it wasn't long before he was informed of his acceptance and the process began to work out the details.
West Ham provides Koen Brewer with career opportunities
Known as "The Academy of Football" because of its history developing world-class players, West Ham has produced such legends as Declan Rice, Bobby Moore, Frank Lampard, Paul Ince, Geoff Hurst, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson and Mark Noble.
Brewer's future has yet to be written, but joining an academy that has produced a wealth of professional talent gives him a good start.
FOOTBALL: Southern Cal football lands Daune Morris, an Oakland 3-star running back
"My goal will be to find a way on to a professional scene after the nine months I'm over there with the academy," Brewer said. "(The academy) is all I'm guaranteed over there. I'll have to earn anything after that. If nothing arises there, I'll be wanting to come back and looking to play college soccer."
Oakland coach Jeff Porter will enjoy the remainder of Brewer's run as a three-year starter with the Patriots.
"As much as I saw him playing at the next level, how we get players there is difficult at best," Porter said. "Just seeing this new door open for him I never knew existed, it's a pleasant surprise."
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Oakland's Koen Brewer accepted at England's West Ham soccer academy
