Ben Arthur |
On Africa’s Ivory Coast, soccer is a way of life. The West African nation has been a consistent powerhouse not only within its continental boundaries, but on the world stage as well.
Even as a young child, University of Portland freshman Jackson Jellah could not deny the soccer-crazed culture in his homeland. Not one of his four siblings or five stepsiblings plays competitively, but it’s not surprising that Jellah’s passion for the game comes naturally.
French is the official language in the Ivory Coast, but soccer is a close second.
“It’s a language that everyone speaks [over there],” Jellah said. “It’s a sport that everyone loves.”
Unlike French, soccer transcends cultural boundaries. The sport helped to bring Jellah from his native Ivory Coast, through a refugee program in Liberia, to Arizona and finally to UP’s Merlo Field.
Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Jellah was immediately thrust into a busy city atmosphere. Because he was so young, Jellah doesn’t recall much about growing up there, but does remember the hustle and bustle of West Africa’s cultural hub.
After spending most of his childhood in Abidjan, Jellah moved west to Liberia where he lived in a refugee program before transitioning to the US. Jellah relocated to America with his mother in 2003. The duo lived in a small apartment in Phoenix, Arizona. Jellah began living and breathing soccer, the sport became his lifeline.
By 2010, Jellah was an up-and-coming player in the US. Harry Demos, Jellah’s head coach at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, remembers seeing him for the first time that year. It was at a local tournament that three things stood out: speed, pace and creativity. He had it all.
Jellah put together a winning pedigree in high school and won a couple Arizona state championships at the club level with his CCV Stars ‘97 Black team. While Jellah had it all on the field, his home life was unraveling. When his mother’s living situation became less stable, Demos and his family offered to take him in.
“Jackson’s mom was moving around a little bit,” Demos said. “We wanted to provide him with a steady home environment.”
Already having a strong relationship with Demos, Jellah felt that having the opportunity to move into a better neighborhood and earn a better education made the decision a no-brainer.
Jellah’s biological father had stayed behind in Liberia. Demos filled the father figure role. With Demos as a mentor, Jellah worked towards his goal of becoming a Division I soccer player.
At 5’8” and 150 pounds, Jellah isn’t the most physically intimidating player on the field. But whatever the freshman lacks in size, he more than makes up for with his skill. This made him a not-to-miss recruit for UP Soccer.
“Jackson is blessed with incredible speed,” head coach Bill Irwin said. “We’re looking at him to be an offensive threat and get us goals.”
Jellah hasn’t scored a goal yet. His only goal attempt was during the Michigan State game. Still, Demos believes that given time, Jellah’s versatility and speed will make him a valuable player for the Pilots.
“[Jellah] can be the type of dynamic player that Portland has missed the past few years,” Demos said. “I can see him scoring 10 or more goals a year come his junior season.”
Even more than his speed, Jellah’s personality sets him apart. Always happy and always smiling, students and staff around the UP campus see him as an outgoing and friendly person, someone that is easy to approach.
“I like to put other people in good moods,” Jellah said. “I don’t like it when people are sad or depressed around me.”
Demos agrees, saying that he is a chameleon, comfortable on and off the field. Jellah’s charm, Demos says, makes him down-to-earth.
Jellah’s demeanor on the field is in sharp contrast to who he is off the field. He’s feisty and aggressive when attacking the ball. His speed and leaping ability make him a threat to opposing defenders. His creativity combined with his technique and pace makes him unique.
Jellah’s leadership qualities stand out to Irwin. As one of the youngest players on the team, Jellah has a mature mindset that makes him less concerned with his individual performance, and more concerned with the team’s overall results.
“My personal goal is to help the team in any shape or form,” Jellah said. “To bust my butt off. To be coachable.”
Senior defender Hugo Rhoads says that Jellah does just that.
“He is one of those guys that you can rely on to bring the energy and drive that pushes those around him to be the best they can be,” Rhoads said. “Besides him being a good friend, he is a great teammate and knows how to keep a positive attitude that we can feed off of as a team.”
Irwin sees Jellah as a crucial piece of the equation. He expects his role on the team to continue to grow.
“Jackson can be a leader,” Irwin said. “Not only with his technical ability as a soccer player, but also his demeanor and how he gets along with people off the field. I think he is a tremendous asset, not only for the soccer team, but also for the school.”
Phoenix has become Jackson Jellah’s second home. The Demos family has become his adopted family. Now UP has welcomed him with open arms.
An ocean away from soccer nation, Jellah is constantly being reminded of his humble beginnings on the Ivory Coast. It wasn’t uncommon to see people kicking a ball around in the street, day or night. Everyone was unified through their passion for soccer. When the Villa Drum Squad leads the students out onto the bleachers, that familiar unity is there for Jellah. The universal love for the game is there. And that love, for Jellah, comes from West Africa.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the [Ivory Coast’s] influence on my life,” Jellah said.
Ben Arthur is a sports reporter for The Beacon. He can be reached at arthur17@up.edu.
