Mahamat Khamis: October's Zueike Male Athlete of the Month
Khamis attacks the net in the Blazers' semi-final win over Les Rouges on October 25th
Congratulations to Mahamat Khamis of Blazers Men's Soccer on being selected the CMU Zueike Male Athlete of the Month for October. The rookie striker gave opposition defenders fits all month, and played a big role in the team's MCAC Championship run.
A summer signing for head coach Gode Katembo, Khamis brings a level of speed to the Blazers attack rarely seen across the MCAC, possessing the skill and athleticism to change the way the Blazers can attack, and the way their foes have to defend, opening up space for other players to join in on the action.
Khamis factored in heavily during most of the Blazers' biggest wins in the month, including getting the scoring started in the team's big semi-final win over Les Rouges during championship weekend. He then went on to assist on the winning goal by Romaine Francis, sending the team to the championship final. While he did not record a point during the massive title-clinching game, his persistent attack drove the Brandon defenders back, opening space for the wingers and attacking midfielders to get good looks at goal. Khamis forced a number of corner kicks during that match, including the Francis corner that resulted in the opening goal from sophomore Taiwo Oshode.
If the conference stats leaderboard gives you any indication of where Khamis stands among his top peers, his name is splashed all over the offensive categories, standing among the likes of fellow Blazers All-Conference selections Romaine Francis, Nicholas Pavao, and Tristen Holfeld. Khamis finished the season with seven goals, good for fourth in the MCAC in that category, tied for first in assists with four, fourth in points, and second in shots generated.
Any number of Blazers men's soccer student-athletes could have taken the athlete of the month honours for October including championships MVP Taiwo Oshode, soon to be named All-Canadian Romaine Francis, the aforementioned All-Conference selections Tristen Holfeld and Nicholas Pavao, captain Jean-Paul Murhabazi, or keeper Nicholas Peterson, all who factored in heavily during the final stretch of the season. The selection was perhaps as tough as ever, which goes to show how well-rounded and and complete the team is as they head into the CCAA National Championships. Head coach Gode Katembo, who is with the team now in Montreal states "Mahamat has been outstanding this past month not just because of his goals and assists, but because of his hunger, attitude, and consistency. Every game he brings energy that lifts the entire team. His pace, power, and finishing have made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the league, but what impresses me most is how hard he works off the ball and his willingness to learn."
The Blazers men's soccer team captured their first MCAC title since 2018, and the first in the CCAA era for the conference, making program history as the first soccer team, male or female, to represent CMU at a nationals event. This year's tournament is hosted by Champlain College in Saint-Lambert, Quebec on the shores of the St Lawrence Seaway and runs November 5-8.
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