Ali Abubakar Gharib is Ascent Soccer’s first global scholar from Kenya and the second to attend St. Andrew’s College (SAC), Canada’s top all-boys boarding school.

As a 14-year-old in 2017, Ali was the youngest player invited to Kenya’s national U20 training camp and his creative attacking play has made him a standout offensive talent with Ascent Soccer.

Moving through his academic and soccer pathway at Ascent’s Uganda campus, Ali earned an opportunity to compete for a global scholarship opportunity. On his entrance exams, Ali excelled and tested in the 90th percentile in mathematics, earning him a place at SAC in recognition of both his athletic and academic potential.

During his first few months in Canada, Ali has been excelling in school and soccer, while also reaching outside of his comfort zone by hitting the stage in the school’s production of  ‘School of Rock’ and a role in the school holiday concert. Ali performed in SAC’s ‘Andrean Christmas’, which takes place in front of parents and alumni at a sold-out Roy Thomson Hall, which seats over 2,600 guests.

A creative force on the field, in the classroom and in the theatre, Ali is paving the way for future Ascent Soccer graduates.

In September of 2022, Ali will continue his journey on full scholarship at the University of Dayton.