Sports

Hofstra soccer player brings international flavor

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Lerthon Theuma is one of 15 players on the Hofstra men’s soccer team who was born outside the United States, but Theuma is the only one of them who can say he went to high school in this country. The Franklin Square resident moved here from Malta when he was 12 and spent his teenage formative years adjusting to American cultural norms, both on and off the soccer field.

The Hofstra sophomore, 19, who attended Valley Stream North High School in Franklin Square, plays midfield and defense on the Hofstra soccer squad, which finished in a three-way tie for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association (5-2-1) this year. He played in 15 games during the regular season while providing a spark off the bench.

Theuma grew up in Santa Venera, Malta, relocating to Franklin Square with his parents when he was in middle school. His father, Stephen, was a successful professional soccer player in Malta for 25 years, which led to Lerthon playing and starting to love soccer when he was 4. “It kind of went with the family,” Theuma said. “He kept encouraging me. I loved it.”

The former 2012 high school Class A Nassau County Player of the Year first came to Long Island in February 2007. His father loved the U.S., and the family wanted a lifestyle change. “We were comfortable [in Malta], but we just wanted to experience a new life,” Theuma said.

He said he misses his extended family. Only his parents, brother and an aunt are in the U.S. Theuma also recalled how popular soccer was in Malta. Seemingly everyone there played “futbol” or at least knew the game.

When Theuma first arrived in Franklin Square, he said it was like a “childhood movie” because of how nice the community is. It also took a while to get used to the size of the United States, because Malta measures only 122 square miles.

In high school, Theuma played on the Bayside United Premier Soccer Club and credits that experience with fostering his development. “That was a good experience,” Theuma said. “There were a lot of quality players.”

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