Yvan Fonnde is a Capital Honors student at UIS. It is by no surprise that he is on UIS’s soccer team because he has been playing soccer his entire life. Foonde plays defender/ forward for the UIS men’s soccer team.

Born in France, Foonde was immediately immersed into the culture of soccer. Foonde started playing soccer when he was about 4 and from there he has been unstoppable. His family had a lot to do with his interest in playing; and is his main inspiration. Another inspiration that he draws from his favorite team, Madrid.

Even though he was born in France, he was raised close by in Naperville, Illinois. He graduated from Waubonsie Valley ranking in the top 25 percent of his class. Adjusting to the workload here at UIS isn’t an easy transition for anyone, but because he had a lot to juggle in high school he had an easier transition. What also helps not only him, but the entire team, are the study hours that are set aside for the student athletes to get their work done.

Foonde, however, is not a first year here at UIS. He is a second year Biology major. He has goals of graduating college and being successful. He is not too sure of exactly what he wants to do with his degree post-college, but with a degree in biology there are a lot of choices.

“I remember my senior year of high school, I scored a goal off of a bicycle kick,” Foonde said of his favorite play. According to uisprairie stars.com in his earlier years Foonde helped his club soccer team, Galaxy Soccer Club, win back to back Kalamazoo Soccer Invite championships in 2010 and 2011.

“Our team”, Foonde said, “has a good structure.” He recognizes that his soccer teams program is having some growing pains, but in the end it will be conducive to him and the team. Their coach, Coach Miech, is working out the kinks of this program as we speak.