Now you see him, now you don't. The challenge of finding senior forward Akil DeFreitas on the soccer field is not an easy chore. His lightning quick footwork and electrifying speed frightens opponents as it takes mere seconds for No. 25 to break away from the defense.
DeFreitas, a native of Port of Spain in Trinidad, began playing soccer at just six years of age, and after participating in a soccer league there, he quickly realized his potential. He attended St. Anthony's College in Trinidad before coming to the U.S. to play soccer for the University of North Florida.
"Where I'm from, there weren't really any schools known for college soccer," said DeFreitas. "My coaches pushed me hard to pursue my potential and when I was offered a full ride to play at North Florida, I had to take it because I didn't have any other options."
After enjoying three solid years at North Florida, DeFreitas decided he wanted to bring his unique skills to a more elite level. The transition to the NC State soccer program was a fairly smooth one, with only a few bumps along the way.
"When I arrived in Raleigh my junior year I didn't produce the way I wanted to and it took me a while to adapt to the system," said DeFreitas. "The fitness activities were way more advanced. At North Florida, I could get by fairly easily, but when I came here it was more strenuous, and they demanded more from us because NC State is a better program and a better team." . DeFreitas had some adjusting to do off the soccer field as well.
"Another large difference between North Florida and NC State are the academics," he said. "NC State has larger class sizes, and the professors put more information on the board, and then you're left to figure a lot out on your own."
DeFreitas spoke of his true passion of playing for the Wolfpack.
"The friendships I've made and the different environments I've been exposed to, have been a fantastic experience for me," he said. "Just the fact that I can play among so many great players and coaches really means a lot to me. The team has become a family to me. I'm a million miles away from home, and they treat me as a true brother instead of just another teammate."
DeFreitas also spoke of a rather considerable culture shock as well after moving to Raleigh.
"The environment in Raleigh is much different compared to Florida," he said. "The people here are much nicer, open-minded, and embracing."
The lightning-quick forward is not shy about his self-confidence.
"By the end of the season, I want to score the most goals in the ACC," said DeFreitas. "But at the end of the day, I want the team to be successful. I'd love to return to the NCAA Tournament and play in front of the big-time crowds."
According to DeFreitas, being able to laugh at himself is also a key to success.
"People often make fun of my accent and how I pronounce certain words," he said. "One example is when I say "tree" for the number three. It's easy to just laugh it off because I know my teammates have my back."
Although soccer is his main passion, DeFreitas knows he can help others through his major in African studies.
"If professional soccer doesn't pan out, my plan is to educate younger people about the different aspects of African culture," said DeFreitas. "It's good for people to know their heritage and if they have a conscious awareness of African struggles, they would appreciate and understand the hardships that black people have gone through."
Coming from a country outside the United States, DeFreitas is no stranger to diversity, especially when it comes to the Wolfpack soccer program.
"The diversity on the team brings a whole new culture; it's like a melting pot," said DeFreitas. "Even though we're a team, it's also a learning background and geography class with all these players coming from different backgrounds. Overall, it's quite a learning experience."
If left with one image, DeFreitas sees himself most like Lionel Messi, the professional soccer player from Argentina who currently plays for FC Barcelona.
"I want to be seen as an intelligent person," said DeFreitas. "Messi is a very laid-back individual who is clean-cut and keeps a low profile and does not get into trouble. I try to stay away from it as well, as I don't drink alcohol. I consider myself to be a clean person, and I'm actually pretty shy."
In his senior year with the Wolfpack, DeFreitas displays an integral role to the team.
"Being a senior makes me a leader," said DeFreitas. "It's my job to get the freshmen acclimated to the system and encourage them as much as possible. Even though I'm not a captain on the team, I still have an impact.
"When the times get tough, I lead by example. I aim to boost the morale of the team and educate the young guys. I want to work as hard as possible, push myself to the extra limit, and do my best to score goals and get us as many wins as possible."