'Cerebral' Kavita returns home to begin pro soccer career


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CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Highland High alum Phanuel Kavita has done some pretty big things in his life.

The 21-year-old former all-state soccer player from Salt Lake City finished his four-year career at Clemson, where he started every game he was available and captained the defense during a 14-7-3 campaign his senior year that included an ACC tournament title and appearance in the NCAA tournament’s final 16.

As a freshman, he scored the winning goal of a 2-1 upset against then-No. 1 Maryland with less than six minutes left in regulation.

More recently, he signed a Homegrown Player contract with MLS club Real Salt Lake, capping a move that began years ago when he trained at RSL’s academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. He had a locker set up for him at Rio Tinto Stadium, and claimed his first pro jersey with his surname and No. 3 on the back of it.

But none of those hold up to what he calls his best moment of 2014. That feat was accomplished away from the soccer field — earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, finally walking at Clemson’s commencement exercises in December.

“I was very excited,” Kavita said. “That’s one thing my parents have put on all of us: the opportunity to come to the United States wasn’t easy, but they really forced upon us to continue to work hard in school. Getting that degree was more for them and for me than getting that contract.”


That's one thing my parents have put on all of us: the opportunity to come to the United States wasn't easy, but they really forced upon us to continue to work hard in school. Getting that degree was more for them and for me than getting that contract.

–RSL defender and Clemson graduate Phanuel Kavita


Kavita is one of eight newcomers on RSL’s roster for the team’s preseason training camp that spans Arizona and California and concludes with the annual Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Arizona. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound defender from Salt Lake City will be in the running for plenty of minutes as one of four signed central backs with Real Salt Lake heading into preseason camp.

And that’s not even counting Kavita’s potential for starting time with Real Monarchs, the USL Pro affiliate that will begin play this year at Rio Tinto Stadium and move to the Utah State Fairpark in 2016.

It’s a new level of play for the rookie — but one challenge he’s looking forward to tackling.

“The speed is faster than college, but my personal life transition shouldn’t be hard,” said Kavita, whose friends call him ‘Phannie.’ “My family is here, so it’s good to be home. It’s not too bad right now.”

After Kavita signed his contract with RSL, he called his parents and told them the news. Both were understandably excited, not only for the chance to play professional soccer, but to do so much closer to home than his previous four seasons in the Southeastern United States.

In fact, Kavita moved right back into his old room, spending several days alone with his mother — and her cooking — before the team departed for the first leg of preseason in Casa Grande, Arizona.

“Mom loves having me home, and I love her cooked meals,” he said with a grin. “We’re partners in crime; everyone else is at school or working, and it’s usually just my mom and I from early in the morning. We just hang out.”

The familiar settings are helping Kavita adapt to life as a full-time professional, which RSL will push as it readies the 2015 season. Club officials have already said they have high expectations for the cerebral central defender.

“He’s intelligent, he graduated early and this is what he wants to do,” RSL technical director Craig Waibel said of Kavita. “He graduated early on purpose because he wanted the timing (of the offseason) to work out. He’s a player who we know has every intention of focusing on a daily basis to come in and play for us.”

Having a player with a full slate of experience in the college ranks is important for Waibel, the first-year technical director who formerly coached at the University of Washington.

“I came from the college game, and I value college soccer and a college education,” the former Houston Dynamo defender said. “I think it can really help players in terms of maturity and development as a pro.”

Kavita trained with the RSL first team for most summers during his time at Clemson. He played with reserve goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez during the duo’s academy time, and were it not for 12 credits he took last summer so that he could graduate early, he would’ve made training in Salt Lake City every summer of his college career.

Maybe missing last summer explains why Kavita is excited to begin life as a pro.

“I’m just excited to start training, to be with the team, follow the ropes and see how things work,” he said. “I just want to get to it.”

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