‘Falling forward and never back’

Years ago, there was a young child who could not afford soccer cleats. He played barefoot and would make a ball from anything he could find. That young child, who once had nothing to play soccer with, is now playing Division I soccer.

At the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, forward Kyle Edwards is known for his stellar performances on the soccer field, but before he achieved success, he had to go through trials and tribulations back in his home country.

Edwards calls Barrouallie, St. Vincent, home. It was the place that saw him grow up, but it was also the place where Edwards faced the most difficulties. 

“No cleats, not a proper soccer field, no bus fare to go to practice, that kind of stuff, but I was a determined kid,” Edwards said. “And my mother made a lot of sacrifices for me, so that was very difficult for her and for me
as well.

“We just played bare feet. We played on the road. We played anywhere we would find any little space. We would make two goals ourselves and we would just play. We would make balls from anything, fruit. Any sort of thing, we would just make balls from and play, just because we love the game.”

The determination that he had to become successful outweighed the difficulties he was facing in life. Nothing seemed to stop Edwards.

“I mean, it was difficult, but the dream is always alive,” he said. “All you have to do is just keep pushing, keep working hard and with the right family and the right people around you, everything’s going to be great.”

Edwards’ love for soccer began when he was a little kid. His oldest brother always encouraged him to watch the game and to play it. His love for the sport grew throughout the years and it eventually became his passion and an everyday thing.

“I mean, I think in the Caribbean, by the time you start walking, someone is going to give a ball to you,” Edwards said.

His persistence and determination led to an opportunity to play soccer at UTRGV.

“I never liked school. I was never a studious person,” Edwards said. “I can do my work, but I was never a studious person. I just wanted to play pro soccer. When they told me that I had to go to school I was like, ‘No,’ I just wanted to play pro by the time I got out of high school so that was it. They said, ‘If you want to go pro this is the right direction to go and you’ll have a background or something to fall forward on’ because I never go back.”

“I talked to [Head Coach] Paul [Leese] and he sounded like a very interesting guy and his system and everything,” Edwards said. “I like to try new things. I’m very spontaneous, so that’s why I came here.”

In 2018, Edwards joined the Vaqueros and began making an impact right away. By the end of the season, he was named to the All-WAC First Team, WAC All-Tournament Team and All-Far West Region First Team. Edwards led the team in goals scored during the season and was second in the WAC for most goals scored. He finished the season as the leader in points and goals scored during WAC play. His biggest accomplishment was being nominated for the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, which is presented annually to the best male player of the year.

Edwards’ success transferred to the summer, when he played with the Brazos Valley Cavalry FC Soccer Club, which is an affiliate of the Houston Dynamo and member of the United Soccer League (USL).

At Cavalry FC, he lived the opportunity of a lifetime. Edwards was able to practice with the Houston Dynamo. While practicing with the Dynamo he experienced a moment that he will never forget.

One day the Mexico National Soccer Team was in town for a friendly match. While in town, the Dynamo practiced against Mexico. For Edwards it was more than just a practice.

“That was awesome,” he said. “I even got to score a goal on [goalie Guillermo] Ochoa. That feeling was one of the best feelings ever.”

But the opportunities for Edwards did not stop there. In August, he was called to play with the St.Vincent and the Grenadines National Team for a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago.

“It’s always a pleasure and it’s always a great feeling to be back home, to play with the boys,” he said. “You know just being around the home fans, the energy is always high. They’re happy to see me play. They wanted to see how much I’ve grown, how much I’ve improved, and I showed them that and they were impressed.  We actually won the game against Trinidad and Tobago 1-0.”

To kick off the 2019 season, Edwards has been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Third Team, WAC Preseason Player of the Year and Preseason All-WAC selection. As the season continues, his expectations keep growing.

“To improve, keep growing and keep working hard,” he said. “Just do better than I did last year. I mean, last year was fun, but I just thought I could’ve done so much more for the team. But this year I am trying my best to do that. I don’t want to have any regrets.”