12/16/2009 By Bryan Wallace
Dakota Collins, former UFC player, sat down with us to answer a few questions, Dakota recently completed his first Pac Ten soccer season at UCLA, where the Bruins won the Pac ten and lost during the round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament.
Last season Dakota led his United U17 team to a Cal South National Championship and an appearance in the Far West Regional's, where his team lost in the Championship match, his team fell five wins short of being crowned National Champions. You can see Dakota in action when he rejoins his UFC team on May 17th when they try and repeat as Cal South National U18 Champions.
Name: Dakota Collins
Born: 8-15-91
Position: Striker
Team: UCLA Men's Soccer
You recently completed your first semester as a collegiate player, what advice do you have for your former team-mates at United, that would be help them get through their first College season in 2010? Focus on your own development in practice and be ready to compete each day
Name one thing you wished club parents and players knew about being a student athlete at Collegiate level? College is a different environment and the sooner players learn how to balance tough school work with soccer and your own social activities the better off you will be.
What's your nickname if any? At United it was Daka , but now at UCLA its simply DK
What's your favorite professional soccer club? Real Madrid, I have always loved the way they played
What are your soccer strengths? I'm pretty quick, so I would have to say Physical speed and my Technique
Weaknesses? I have always struggled at Heading the ball and I need to do a better job of holding off defenders.
Your favorite pro player? Brazilian great Ronaldo
What pro player do you think you play like? Italian giants AC Milan Striker Alexandre Pato, he's only 2 years older than I am, however he has already established himself as one of the best strikers in the world, I think we have simular technique
What are the highlights of your career so far? Scoring in my first College game and playing in an incredible atmosphere at Maryland, we beat them 2-0 and their fans are crazy!
Low lights of your career so far? I would have liked to have played more minutes at UCLA
Toughest team you have played against? Maryland, their fans did their home work and learned little tid bits about each and everyone of us, they would yell comments at you constantly to try and get you to loose concentration.
Biggest Influence? My family
Best player you have played with? UCLA senior and former U17 National team standout Kyle Nakazawa
Biggest joker at United? That's easy goal keeper Justin Tucker
What artist are you currently listening to on your Ipod? Sage Francis I love her music
Most attractive female celebrity? Its a tie between Megan Fox and Catherine Zeta Jones
Favorite movie? The best movie ever made, without a doubt is Transformers
Favorite TV Show? Family Guy
Tell us something we don't know about you? Before soccer I was a gymnast for seven years
Best Advice given? Be good at everything and great at one thing
Most embarrassing moment? A bird pooped on me this one time at school and its a long story, but it was really embarrassing
If you could play with any professional player who would it be? Zinedine Zidane
What advice can you offer youth players at UFC who strive to follow in your foot steps? Always work hard and always compete because it just gets harder each time you go up in level
In five years time where do you see yourself? Playing professionally in Europe to be playing professional soccer, trying hard everyday to get there. If that doesn't work out I would like to be married and have a job a I love.
