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Jonathan off to top US college
29.06.10
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A YOUNG Cockhill student has embarked on the journey
of a lifetime after securing a prestigious four-year
soccer scholarship to a top US university.
Jonathan Bonner, 18, a former pupil of Cockhill NS
and Scoil Mhuire, was scooped up by the scouts from
High Point University, North Carolina, following
trials in Dublin.
Speaking ahead of his flight from Dublin to the USA
on Sunday, Jonathan said he was delighted.
“It is such a great opportunity for me. I will be
sad to leave my friends and family this weekend but
I couldn’t pass it up; I’ll always be able to come
back here,” he said.
Armed with a laptop, Jonathan intends to keep in
touch with loved ones in Inishowen via Facebook and
Skype. |
At the start of the
year the Buncrana Hearts youngster was aiming for a
place in the Derry City squad. Now he has his sights
set firmly on the US Major League Soccer. He is
targetting a midfield role with David Beckham’s
former team.
“I would love to play for the LA Galaxy; they have
former Madrid player Guti on their team now,” he
said.
The savvy local teen has a plan B firmly in place
should his MLS dream fail to materialise. Jonathan
will be a fully-qualified PE teacher if he is not
picked up LA, New York or Washington et al.
Jonathan, a Liverpool and Barca |
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fan, enjoyed a going
away party with family and friends before jetting
off to begin summer school training in North
Carolina. He will return to Buncrana on December 18,
for the Christmas holidays.
When asked how Buncrana Hearts would cope without
him, Jonathan said with a smile: ‘I’m sure they’ll
be alright.” |
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