While the attention of all Philadelphia Union fans are focused on Saturday afternoon's showdown with Toronto FC in the 2019 Major League Soccer opener, today is a special day for one of the Union's own. Mark McKenzie.
McKenzie might be 20 today but he's accomplished so much before he left his teens officially. 19 was a special age for McKenzie. He made his MLS debut as a 19-year-old and made 19 regular-season appearances. He also earned his first U.S. Men's National team call-up for the January camp. Before that, he guided the U-20s to a 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Berth.
Off the field, McKenzie was given the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion about what it has been like to be Black soccer player in the United States right now. McKenzie was joined by moderator Danielle Slaton, businessman Aaron Dolores, US Women's National Team and North Carolina Courage player Crystal Dunn, and writer Aaron West. The discussion provides details about how McKenzie and others ended up living a soccer-driven life and explores the barriers that prevent more Black Americans from becoming involved in soccer at an early age.
McKenzie has accomplished a lot before turning 20 but fans can't wait to see what the future holds for the now 20-year-old center back from Bear, Delaware.
