At 4:30 a.m. in Florida, Miguel da Silva was already wide awake, not for training, but to share his story with the Platform Sports community. His path to U.S. college soccer has been anything but straightforward, and that’s exactly why it’s worth telling.
Miguel’s love for football began in Canberra, Australia, nurtured in a Portuguese household where the sport was more than just a game, it was culture. By the time he finished high school, he was determined to play at the highest level possible. A move to Sydney saw him competing for clubs like APIA Leichhardt and the Central Coast Mariners’ U23s, where a teammate first introduced him to the idea of U.S. college soccer. At the time, he had no knowledge of the pathway, but the possibility of combining study, travel, and high-level football sparked something.
“I thought, this sounds incredible,” Miguel recalls. “A degree, professional-level facilities, and the chance to play the game I love? I was in.”
Miguel’s move to the U.S. didn’t happen overnight. COVID-19 forced him to wait almost three years after graduating high school. In that time, he played in Sydney and Melbourne, enduring interrupted seasons and border closures. While frustrating, those stints prepared him for life away from home, learning how to adapt, manage himself, and thrive in new environments.
That resilience paid off when he finally arrived in Kansas in 2021, joining Division I junior college Coffeyville. The adjustment was smooth, thanks in part to his maturity. “Even as a freshman, I was helping other freshmen adapt. That experience living interstate in Australia really helped.”
Over the next three years, Miguel moved between multiple programs: Coffeyville, Barton Community College, and Northeastern Nebraska. Each transfer raised eyebrows, but Miguel was clear on his reasoning and development.
“I didn’t want to stay comfortable. I wanted to be in environments with better players, better coaching, and styles of play that suited me.”
These moves broadened his game. He learned different systems, played multiple positions, and proved to coaches he could adapt quickly, a skill that’s valued highly in the college system.
One constant through every transfer? Leaving on good terms. “Coaches talk. No matter where you go, they’ll call your old coach. Maintaining respect with everyone; teammates, staff, professors, is non-negotiable.”
In 2022, just weeks into pre-season at Northeastern, Miguel tore his ACL. Nine months of rehab followed, part of it back in Australia. The injury could have ended his college career, but instead it became a test of his patience and determination.
“I came back hungrier. Injuries force you to grow in ways you don’t expect.”
Today, Miguel is in Florida, preparing for his senior season at NAIA school Webber International University. The move came after hundreds of cold outreach emails and summer league connections.
The difference between JUCO and NAIA? “Facilities, resources, and professionalism,” Miguel says. “At Webber, athletic support is on another level. But the biggest change is how much emphasis there is on athlete success both on the field and academically.”
Miguel wishes he’d had someone explain exactly what to expect before he left Australia. “You can watch YouTube videos, but it’s not the same as talking to someone who’s lived it. That conversation can make the difference between thriving and heading home early.”
Now part of the Platform Sports network, Miguel is ready to be that voice for others — whether it’s advice on summer leagues, navigating transfers, or balancing life in the U.S.
“Anyone who wants to chat, my DMs are open. If my journey can help someone else prepare better, it’s worth it.”
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