Mehluko Letsoalo is a junior international student on the Elizabethtown College men’s soccer team. He was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa in what he referred to as a family full of athletes.

“My uncles played at a very high level, my brother was basically a pro…my second oldest brother played for the national team,” Letsoalo said. “I grew up around that kind of environment and just fell in love with the game.”

Letsoalo was recruited to play soccer in high school and after taking a gap year between high school and college to play for a semi-pro team, he was recruited to play at Etown. He had never been to the United States until after committing to attend Etown.

The culture of brotherhood on the soccer team is what Letsoalo enjoys most about playing soccer at Etown. He says soccer in America is much more physical and tactical than he is used to in Africa, but it is enjoyable, and he is still in love with the sport.

After his time at Etown, Letsoalo plans to stay in America and pursue a position on a pro team. If playing pro soccer does not work out for him, he plans to join the workforce. Either way, he plans on gaining citizenship so he can continue to live in the United States.

Class Year: 2023

Major: Finance

Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa

High School: Tuks Sport High School

Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Egg jay on a bagel

Favorite Movie: “Spider-man” (2002)

Favorite singer: Drake

Favorite sports team: Manchester United

Favorite place to visit: Camps Bay in Cape Town, South Africa

Favorite Etown memory: Playing in the 2021 Marshmallow Game

Greatest Etown accomplishment: Being a captain in my junior year

Hardly anyone knows that… I taught myself how to play piano

I started playing soccer at age… 11