Fatai Alashe: Brotherhood
1/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
by Brock Lewandowski, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Captain midfielder Fatai Alashe's soccer career has been intertwined with that of his brother Latif since the very beginning.
"I've always played soccer," said Alashe. "My dad got me started right away. We always had a ball around since I was like two or three. I've always been kicking a ball. Since my brother's two years older than me, we've always played. We'd play in the basement, break stuff and our dad would get really mad about it. It's just kind of been a part of our lifestyle since we were kids.
"Just from the start, we've been kicking a ball around, messing with each other and having one-on-one battles with each other. That's where it really started. It didn't always start off a serious sport like this, it was just kind of something we'd do for fun when we were kids."
Soccer has really been quite a family affair for Alashe, with he and his brother completely supported by their parents.
"My dad's been driving us to soccer tournaments, practice ... it's crazy, looking back, the amount of time he spent just taking care of us and taking us through the whole journey of soccer," Alashe said. "Since my brother was older, his team would practice on opposite days, so he would train on a Monday and Wednesday, and we would train on a Tuesday and Thursday. So, every day my dad would get home from work and drive us straight to practice every day of the week. That's one of the things you start to appreciate when you start to look back and think more on it. You just appreciate all the support they've given us."
A Northville, Michigan, native, Latif and Fatai were on opposite ends of the spectrum when in came time to decide where to play college soccer. Both ended up in their home state, Latif at the University of Michigan and Fatai and MSU.
"I would say that I actually kind of got introduced through my brother," said Alashe. "He was doing his visits when he was going through the whole recruiting process, and I would go on a lot of them with him. One of the ones I went to was this one here at State.
"Honestly, from the point I went on his visit with him is when I kind of already knew this was where I wanted to go. I remember we were in a meeting with (head coach) Damon (Rensing) while my brother was getting recruited, and they were talking about all of the stuff on campus and scholarship money and how things work. I remember he asked me and my parents if we had any questions, and I raised my hand and asked him what the team was looking like for 2011 because that's the year I graduated. It's just funny looking back on it because I actually ended up coming here.
"That's one of those things that's important about this school. I probably would have been a freshman in high school at that point, maybe even in middle school and I already knew that this was where I wanted to be. It's all about the people here, obviously the people here, it's a beautiful campus. It's good academically, and we have some of the coolest coaches in the country I would say. It's honestly the atmosphere around our team.
"Once you're around the team, it's hard not to enjoy yourself. I came here on my visit and I couldn't see how I could go anywhere but here. That's one of those really cool things. I can tell that there are lots of recruits that no matter where they really want to go, once they come here it's hard for them no to say yes."
Starting in their basement, perhaps the culmination of competition between the brothers came on collegiate pitches.
"The first time we played here and I remember before the game - it was on Big Ten Network that day - they had us do an interview on TV," Alashe said. "They were asking us questions about each other, and it was weird because we were getting ready to play a game that was pretty serious, a Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game, but you're brother is on the other team and they're asking you questions and you sort of have to say nice things. Right when that's over you have to refocus and now he's the enemy again. It was definitely really cool.
"I know my parents struggled with who to root for. They obviously didn't want to root for either one of us, they wanted the best for both of us. That was good. I will point out that I did win that rivalry in the overall series, we won twice and they won once. I'll take that."
 | These guys are all my family. I consider them my brothers. Anything they needed, I would do it for them and I know they would do the same for me. I think that's one of the most important things about this program. |
Alashe considers the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry to be a special one with his unique perspective.
"Obviously that first time we played Michigan is one," said Alashe. "It's always a different game. You go through the whole year playing these games, and that's when I was a freshman and they're all really important and you get to the Michigan game and you see how much more important that game is and the buzz around the game. The stands are packed during those and it's a completely different feel from most games. Obviously, we won and won the Big Bear and that's one of those that will stand out for a long time."
Even with complicated dynamics between the siblings, his parent's support did not waver throughout his time at Michigan State.
"My parents, they come to every game," Alashe said. "This year, they went to every single game. I know I would mess with my mom because during my brother's senior year, which was my sophomore year. We would play on the same days sometimes and I would always make fun of her and ask her when she was going to start coming to my games. She told me that when I was a senior she would go to every single game of the year.
"That's one of those things that is special when your time is winding down here and you've got your parents watching you every time you play. It doesn't matter how far, like they traveled to Maryland and Penn State. They'll be there every time, no matter how far they have to go. That's a special feeling."
With the deep familial roots in the sport for Alashe, his experience with the team at MSU hit on similar strings.
"It's just the collective of being together every day," said Alashe. "Those are things you'll remember forever, even the times in the locker room before training. You're just sitting there messing with each other. We've got a bunch of jokesters on out team, so it's altogether those moments are just really cool.
"These guys are all my family. I consider them my brothers. Anything they needed, I would do it for them and I know they would do the same for me. I think that's one of the most important things about this program."
As many parallels and intersections run between the Alashe brothers, Fatai hopes to leave a singular impression on the Spartan soccer program.
"I always get a little stick for wearing number 27 because it's kind of a random number," Alashe said. "I'm sure it's been rare for someone to actually wear the number 27. That's the number I came in with that I really liked. It's just any way that you're remembered, for good things at least, is probably good.
"I'd just like to be remembered for my personality, for being fun. I'm usually a pretty big jokester, messing around and lightening the mood. That would be a good way to be remembered. If not that, just for my play on the field. For being one of the few guys to wear number 27 and excel. It would like for the guys to think that Fatai was a solid player and we're going to miss him."
Alashe has spent his four years at Michigan State making a strong case for being the best player to wear 27 in school history.
Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2011, Alashe started 80 games as a Spartan and totaled 24 points from eight goals and eight assists. He became a two-year Academic All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2013.
In 2014, he distinguished himself on the national stage, earning Big Ten All-Tournament Team and Second-Team All-American honors.
In January of 2015, he was invited to participate in the MLS combine and was named as one of only eight players in the nation to sign early contracts with Major League Soccer. He also made school history as the highest-ever draft pick from MSU, named as the No. 4 overall pick of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.
As he continues to exceed even his own expectations, the relationship to his family has been the biggest influence in his soccer career.
"I would say my biggest role model is probably my brother because he's just a great older brother," said Alashe. "People always talk about how the older brother should set the example for a younger brother. He's a great example of just a great personality, and he works really hard on and off the field.
"I think I learned so much from him over the years, whether that be watching him play or just talking to him and him telling me things I can improve on and off the field, even in the classroom. He's a great role model, and I appreciate everything he's done for me so much. I would say it'd have to be him."
