The former MLS player now serves as a Development Analyst for one of Charlotte’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β What defines an athlete isnβt just who they are in their game.
“Obviously you need to keep the main thing the main thing, focus on your sport, Β be a dedicated true professional,” said Tesho Akindele. “But if you lock in on that, maybe you can be a Michael Jordan but most of us arenβt like Michael Jordan. We need stuff outside of it.”
Soccer was always part of Akindele’s story, but not the whole picture. After moving to Colorado from Canada, he developed a love for the sport, attending youth soccer camps at the Colorado School of Mines, where he would eventually enroll.
“All you can do there is engineering. I am one of the many nerds that went to the School of Mines,” Akindele laughed. “A lot of smart people at that school but were also really good at sports.”
With an engineering degree and playing Division II soccer, his original plan was never to pursue soccer professionally, until he started getting more national recognition.
“When I went to college, I didnβt think I would become a professional,” said Akindele. “I was good but I thought Iβll play four years in college and then Iβll become an engineer. After my first year, I did really well and got a lot of calls from Division I schools saying ‘You have to leave that school because you have the potential of being a pro’. I went to my coach who I had known since I was 10 and I was showing him the messages and was like, ‘What do you think, should I leave?’ Because now I was believing I could be a pro. He was like βIf you stay here I promise you I can make you a professional’.” Β
Akindele continued to play at Colorado School of Mines and was eventually drafted in the first round of the 2014 MLS Super Draft by FC Dallas; going on to a nine-year professional career, playing for his native Canadian National Team and scoring more than 50 goals throughout his playing career. Throughout it, he always kept his other passions in the back of his mind.
“I kinda really proved myself that I can be a good soccer player and a good professional and I think once I built up that reputation it gave me more freedom to express and explore other sides of myself. It felt like I was playing with house money the whole time,” said Akindele.
His playing career took him around the world, which opened his eyes up to his next chapter.
“Just to see the different cultures, different ways people built cities ,for example — I think soccer more so than my upbringing was that unlock for me to see how many really cool places there are in the world,” said Akindele.
Akindele parlayed soft skills like working under pressure and communication, as well as his engineering background, and brought them to Camp North End, helping to develop one of Charlotte’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
“I feel like soccer was a blessing; this career is a blessing too in building something that tens and soon hundreds of people will call home,” said Akindele.
“Sports is the games over you won but thereβs another game. So thereβs those wins and that pride is fleeting. Here at Camp North End, I can bring my kids here and say, ‘Dadβs a part of this and it’s there forever.’ I really do feel proud of that permanence,” said Akindele. In a lot of ways, Camp North End is shaping Charlotte and in a way thatβs really permanent so Iβm really proud to be part of Charlotteβs story.”
Contact Danielle Stein at dstein@wcnc.com and follow her on X andΒ Instagram.
You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, just download the free WCNC+ app to get the news that impacts you.
