Men's Soccer | October 24, 2014

 
You could say that soccer is a family affair for La Salle freshman Sixtus Akinlosotu. In addition to Sixtus providing pivotal minutes off the bench for the Explorers in his first year on campus, he has a brother and two cousins who have also played or currently play Divison I soccer including two in the Atlantic 10, and another at a Big 5 rival.
 
Next weekend (10/31) the Akinlosotu family will be divided as La Salle welcomes St. Bonaventure to McCarthy Stadium for the first ever competitive match between Sixtus and his older brother Bonaventure, who is a redshirt freshman for the Bonnies. While the two may have never faced each other formally, they have been competing with each other for years.
 
"It's going to be pretty intense because we haven't actually faced each other in a real competitive match," added Sixtus. "We have faced each other at home and we have a rivalry so it will be cool to actually get to play him in college. We would race each other and things like that so it was always really competitive between the two of us."
 
Sixtus thanks in part this friendly competitiveness between the brothers as part of the reason why he chose La Salle. "It played a part in my decision (to come to La Salle). He (Bonaventure) told me that St. Bonaventure was in the A-10 and once I realized that at La Salle I would get to play against him, it was pretty much a done deal."
 
However, soccer success is something that goes beyond just Sixtus' nuclear family. As mentioned he has two cousins who have or are currently competing in Division 1. Adetomiwa Adewole was a four year letter winner at fellow Philadelphia area school Villanova. He appeared in 29 games for the Wildcats and scored three career goals. Adetomiwa has continued playing for Real Maryland FC after graduation. Adetomiwa's younger brother Tobi Adewole has found early success in the Atlantic 10 at George Washington.
 
The success across the board from his older family members is something that helped drive Sixtus to play Division I soccer. "After seeing them all play in college, I felt that I must be able to thrive as well. With Tobi doing so well in Atlantic 10, I felt a bit of competition going on with him as well, and with my entire family."
 
Last weekend Sixtus and Tobi went head-to-head when La Salle traveled to Washington D.C. to take on the Colonials. Tobi started and played 40 minutes in the first half, picking up a yellow card in the 26^th minute. Sixtus entered the game in the 38^th minute of the first half, meaning that for about three minutes the two cousins went head-to-head on the field. Tobi and the Colonials came out ahead on the day as a 16^th minute goal held up for the hosts in a 1-0 defeat for the Explorers.
 
However, for Sixtus playing with and against his brother and cousins isn't something that just happens strictly in competitive matches. It's inevitable that a family outing occurs without some three-a-side games happening. Typically, Sixtus, Bonaventure and their younger brother Tunde go up against Tobi, Tomiwa and their younger brother Toni. The three-on-three games are fun in nature but with four Division 1 players all competing, it's certainly more competitive than your run of the mill backyard games.
 
All scores could be settled as there is a distinct possibility that the two will be marking one another on the field. Sixtus has appeared in six games on the season off the bench, spending the majority of his time on the right side of the midfield. His brother, meanwhile, has played in nine of ten games for the Bonnies including five starts at right back.
 
Sixtus expects his dad to be in attendance when the two square off. When asked what color shirt his dad will be wearing Sixtus added, "I think he will try to stay neutral, but he will root for the better brother when it comes down to it. I'll leave it at that." Whether that better brother is Sixtus or Bonaventure; it is certain that whoever comes out ahead won't let the other one forget about it for a while.