Krystian Witkowski is literally living a dream. Playing for childhood hero Peter Nowak at the Philadelphia Union, months after finishing his career at Marist College (NY), is pure bliss for the former U-18 Poland national team player.
“MLS is a dream come true,” Witkowski stated. “Every morning when I wake up, I can’t think of a better job.”
He has embraced his role as a defensive midfielder for the Union. His fitness and quality touch on the ball have made him an exciting prospect for Philadelphia. Only a serious concussion and its lingering effects have kept him out of the Union’s immediate plans.
He is certainly flexible, adapting quickly to a new style and a new system.
At Marist, Witkowski often was on the wing. He would be asked to go at players and make runs, taking advantage of his freedom to roam the pitch.
The players in the pros are bigger, stronger, and faster than his college foes, but Witowski is up to the challenge. He understands that the overall speed of play is much faster and that it is important to use your soccer IQ because you aren’t going to push through or blow past anyone in MLS.
Witkowski’s path to the highest professional league in North America was rather unorthodox. Playing at a small college not known for their soccer programs and then landing at NPSL side FC Buffalo is not a road taken by many. But it was full of great experiences that made him a better player.
“Playing at Buffalo was a pretty cool experience,” Witkowski continued. “It was good to see different styles of play and get my endurance.”
But one of the proudest moments was playing for the Polish national team at the U-18 level.
“It is my fondest soccer memory,” Witkowski admitted, “one of the best experiences in my life.”
You could say playing the beautiful game is a family tradition. Krystian’s brother, Kamil, played professionally in Poland with Cracovia and Gornik Leczna.
But Krystian’s dreams are being fulfilled right here in the U.S.A. in the City of Brotherly Love, learning and improving his game under the expert tutelage of a childhood idol. It doesn’t get much better than that.
