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Mass Soccer Spotlight: 10 questions with JP...

05/18/2017, 12:30pm EDT
By Sean Bakhtiari

Mass Soccer Spotlight: JP Musanda

Massachusetts Soccer

JP Musanda Lukengu

National Cup Commissioner

 

Do you think you know, JP?

Get to know our Mass Soccer National Cup Commissioner a little better in this 10 question interview with Sean Bakhtiari.  Learn about how he became involved with Mass Soccer, his favorite Mass Soccer moments, along with his vision for the future!  

Did you know he has 10 siblings and can you guess his favorite professional soccer player?

10 questions with Mass Soccer's JP Musanda Lukengu

  1. What is your involvement with Mass Soccer? - "First and foremost I am a certified mass soccer Referee. Through the years, I became a referee assignor and a referee assessor. I am also the other Massachusetts Cup Commissioner for all the adult MA & USASA sanctioned competitions (USASA Open & Amateur Cups, Mass Champions Cup, Region 1 Competitions)."
  2. How did you initially get involved with Mass Soccer? - "Back in the mid 1980’s, a friend of mine came up with the idea of creating an African Soccer League in Boston to promote brotherhood and social interactions between Boston Congolese and the others African brothers. We had a league, but, we didn’t have a certified official to work the games. That’s how my journey as a referee started."
  3. What is it about soccer that's so special to you? - "Soccer is my hobby: 'J’ aime the foot'. Whatever, I can do to promote the game of soccer, I will do my part.  Helping facilitating individual or communities to create a league is what I like to do. Playing a small part in the development of a referee is priceless to me."
  4. Who is your favorite professional club team and why? - "It’s the Racing Sporting Club Anderlecht. I grew up in Belgium and purple and white are my colors."
  5. Who is your favorite past or present professional soccer player and why? - "Robbie Resenbrink is a former Dutch national football player who played from 1971 to 1980 for RSC Anderlecht. That lefty on the left wing was a magician with the ball on his feet."
  6. Where would you like to see Mass Soccer in 5 years? - "2017 Mass Soccer is at its best in term of providing financial help and offering opened age leagues and players in those teams the opportunities to compete in high level competitions -- National and Regional Cups. I would like to see us bring back under the Mass Soccer umbrella all the ethnic leagues that made Mass Soccer a diversified powerhouse soccer community."
  7. In your opinion, what sets Mass Soccer apart from other USASA state associations? - "For one, the biggest adult league in the country plays right here in Massachusetts, the NEOTHSL. We are one of the smaller states in the country in terms of geographical size, but, we are among the elite in term of registered players."
  8. What is one thing you would like to see Mass Soccer do to bring the organization to the next level? - "Improve the mass soccer image and perception in the inner cities."
  9. What is your best Mass Soccer memory? - "The day "Soccer-schedule" held its recognition banquet at Boston Beer Works in Fenway is my fondest memory. We gave back to the soccer community that we were servicing the game for. In attendance were present league officials, referees, players and the State Association. All the people who make the game possible were there talking and exchanging ideas. Personally with my wife in attendance, it’s  the day I was recognized by Mass Soccer for my small contribution to the game in Massachusetts."
  10. Who is your greatest role model either personally or professionally?  - "It’s my parents and my 10 siblings."

Tag(s): News