When discussing the home of soccer in the United States, a few places may come to mind, but if North Jersey does not make your list, you are probably misinformed. New Jersey, in general, boasts a rich soccer history that predates even that of Brazil. Our feature, Belmar Joseph’s story, begins right there.
Growing up soccer was not only around him in West Orange New Jersey, but inside his home. Coming from a soccer family that not only loved the game, but played for generations he followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle taking to the pitch at a young age. With no shortage of high level players and teams in his area he developed quickly. If club and school was not enough he played with his friends in a winner-stays game format at a local park that converted a tennis court into a proper futsal court. Many great players have told the story of street soccer helping them develop their skills and creativity. Belmar took part of that tradition in West Orange. When you have one court and an hour line to play again after you loose it forces you to be competitive and stay on the court.
Before taking his talents to the Villanova Wildcats, the Cedar Stars academy product clinched a state championship with one of New Jersey soccer greatest institutions- St. Benedict’s Prep. A school that is so synonymous with soccer excellence that is has produced players like Tab Ramos, Gregg Berhalter, and Claudio Reyna.
After finishing high school as a state champion, the Haitian-American sensation found himself at another prestigious institution, Villanova. This opportunity arose after a scrimmage with his club team, Cedar Stars, against the New York Red Bulls. As fate would have it, it was a scrimmage that the Villanova head coach would personally attend. To put that into perspective, Belmar was playing against one of the best academies in the country in that scrimmage. Standing out in one game when everyone on the field is a high level player is nearly impossible, but Belmar did just that.
Before dazzling defenders in D1 and securing high school championships, Belmar lived every young American kid’s dream by securing a trial at a European club—not just any club, but Paris Saint-Germain. In just two rounds of tryouts, the American-born talent was selected by the Ligue 1 giant. Unfortunately, Belmar couldn’t secure a European passport and had to return home.
For many players, returning to the States after coming so close to European success might have been mentally tolling. Imagine being good enough to play, but a piece of paper stopping you from living your dream. However, for Belmar, that wasn’t the case. His family and his faith provided the peace he needed to leave things that were out of his control in the past. He returned home on a mission to continue on his journey of being a professional soccer player. You can hear it when he speaks. He has a confidence and faith that things are going to go well.
Growing up, his father and uncle, both former players, trained him and offered advice. When asked about where he got his confidence in the face of intimidating situations, he credited his father for holding him to a very high standard. So when he arrived at Villanova, he didn’t think of himself as a freshman he thought of himself as a player that deserved to be there based on his hard work and merit. He did not settle for “good for a freshman” and limited minutes. Thanks to the instilled attitude of working hard and the feeling of, “I belong here” that his father gave him he was able to make a considerable impact his freshman year.
Belmar has already demonstrated his prowess at almost every level, establishing him as an undeniable talent. However, in soccer, skill alone often falls short. What sets Belmar Joseph apart is an intangible aura of positivity and confidence. It’s challenging to pinpoint whether this emanates from his deep faith in god, unwavering support from his family, or an inherent confidence that defines his presence. Yet, when you combine all of these things with his his support system at a program like Villanova, it creates a compelling recipe for success. So, remember the name Belmar Joseph — he might just be the next “big” player to emerge from New Jersey.
FBD | Tony Thomas DesRois
