« Men’s Soccer 2013

Itode Fubara

School
East Tennessee State
Position
Midfield
Major
Information Technology
G
1
A
2
PTS
4

Classroom

Fubara’s mother worked as an educator in his hometown of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, so Fubara learned the value of education and knowledge at an early age. While most of his soccer-playing peers in Nigeria had dreams of playing soccer professionally, Fubara aspired to attend a university to gain a degree, hoping to start a professional soccer career afterward. Fubara has been named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team each of his first three years at ETSU, in addition to making the Dean’s List once. His 3.283 cumulative GPA has helped ETSU win consecutive NSCAA Team Academic Awards in 2011 and 2012.

Character

Fubara grew up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, one of twelve children. While chasing his dreams of attaining a collegiate scholarship, Fubara gained notoriety by twice being named the MVP of the Abua-Obdual Seven Aside Tournament. Fubara’s journey to ETSU was marked with more than a few bumps in the road. Missing documentation prevented him from initially obtaining a visa. After agreeing to play at ETSU, Fubara was en route to the U.S. Embassy to try to obtain a visa, yet again, when his bus was robbed at gunpoint. The bandits mugged each of the passengers on board, stealing Fubara’s backpack containing the necessary paperwork he would need at the U.S. Embassy. Thankfully, the backpack was later recovered by police, and Fubara was finally able to obtain his visa and join ETSU.

Community

While at ETSU, Fubara has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of children. During his three years in Johnson City, Fubara has volunteered at several clinics, including clinics held at Colonial Heights Middle School, North Side Elementary School, Town Acres Elementary School, and in conjunction with Johnson City Parks and Recreation, and the Hispanic-American Student Community Alliance (HASCA). For the past two years, Fubara has also volunteered at the ‘Sports 4 All’ clinic, an opportunity to advise young members of the surrounding Hispanic community on the importance of healthy living and eating. Fubara has also been a participant at the ETSU Relay for Life for multiple years.

Competition

Fubara, ETSU’s all-time leader for minutes played with 6,435, ranks second in program history for assists (12) and games started (70), while ranking fourth for goals (9). One of just two unanimous selections to this season’s All-Atlantic Sun First Team, Fubara helped lead ETSU to a second place finish in the A-Sun and its fourth consecutive season of eight or more wins, including a road win over No. 8 UAB. Fubara has earned All-Atlantic Sun First Team honors in three of his four seasons at ETSU, in addition to being named to the NSCAA All-South Region Team in 2012. A pivotal member of the 2010 ETSU team that won a program-record 15 matches, Fubara was named Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year and A-Sun Tournament MVP. His game-winning goal in overtime of the 2010 Atlantic Sun Tournament Final gave ETSU its first ever tournament championship and first NCAA Tournament berth. Fubara’s senior class is the winningest class in ETSU Men’s Soccer history (43-24-12).