The former Tuffley and Hartpury forward on short seasons, house parties and missing Digestives, as AIC reach the NE10 semi-finals.
America has given Tomos Shyamapant a master’s course, a place in the NE10 semi-finals and a pizza he had no chance of finishing. It has not given him a Digestive.
“Digestives,” he says without hesitation. “Oh mate, that’s the one thing I’m missing.” The chocolate, he adds, is “not great”.
Everything else is going rather well. The Tewkesbury striker, who came through Tuffley Rovers and Hartpury, joined American International College (AIC) in August and had scored five goals in his first 16 games as the Yellow Jackets reached the NE10 play-offs. On Saturday, they beat Adelphi 1-0 to make the semi-finals.
The pre-season vote did not have them here. AIC were placed seventh, he says, and finished second. “It means a lot to be fair,” he says. “All the boys are so motivated.” The season ends in December at the latest, and after that it is “just training and gym”. He would rather it did not stop. “Due to the NCAA’s league rules we have to have at least a two-week break. I just don’t want to stop playing football, so hopefully we can keep winning.”
That is why he decided to move Stateside. Last season, he says, “I was on the bench or I just wouldn’t play, so I kind of just wanted to play football, really.” Doing it abroad was “almost another bonus”, because “you kind of just go on holiday to play football”.
Whether he actually gets to play is another matter. AIC have four strikers for two places, and nine of his first 16 appearances came off the bench. “If someone comes off the bench and scores, they’re probably starting the next game.” Every goal, in other words, is a job application.
It has not been a gentle introduction. On Wednesday, AIC lost 5-1 at Boston College, a Division One side. “They absolutely popped us,” he says. The squad is a mix of Spaniards, French and Argentines and, by his count, “four English lads who like to head and kick the ball”.
Off the pitch he is learning to feed himself. “It’s the first time I’m living alone,” he says. “All the washing stuff, what I’m eating as well.” He shares a house with five team-mates and there are house parties every other weekend. “I’m going to sleep at like 3, 4am and I’m like, what the hell.” He is no fan of the tipping culture (“oh my goodness”), but people are welcoming and “like the English accent for some reason”.
Back home, kick-offs land at 10 or 11 in the morning for him. He still checks the Hartpury and Tuffley scores and still speaks to a few of the players. “Always want them to win.”
TOMOS SHYAMAPANT TALKING ABOUT THE ABUNDANCE OF PLAYERS FROM DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES IN THE NCAA :
