Ramak Safi
Encyclopedia
Ramak Safi is an Iran
ian footballer who last played for Carolina RailHawks
in the USSF Division 2 Pro League.
, whose members are often persecuted in that country). Safi and his parents, Aliakbar and Afshan, eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida
area.
at Englewood High School
, and was his high school team's placekicker
in his senior year.
Having unsuccessfully applied for a football scholarship at the University of Florida
, Safi instead played one year of college soccer
at Thomas University
in Thomasville, Georgia
in 2005, before transferring to Jacksonville University
as a sophomore. As a senior in 2008 he led the his Jacksonville team in scoring with 10 goals in 21 appearances, and finished his collegiate career with 15 goals and five assists in 57 matches.
in the summer of 2009, Safi attended open tryouts held by the Carolina RailHawks in early 2010. After impressing head coach Martin Rennie
, Safi was signed to his first professional contract by the RailHawks in March, 2010.
He was sent on loan to USL Second Division
side Charlotte Eagles
in July 2010, and made his professional debut for them on July 2, in a game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
.
On September 5, 2010, he scored his first professional goal in a friendly
against Mexican side Pumas Morelos
.
Safi was not listed on the 2011 roster for Carolina released on April 4, 2011.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian footballer who last played for Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USSF Division 2 Pro League.
Early life
Safi, who was born in Iran, came to the United States in 2001 as a religious refugee (he and his family are part of the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, whose members are often persecuted in that country). Safi and his parents, Aliakbar and Afshan, eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
area.
Youth and College
Safi played both soccer and American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
at Englewood High School
Englewood High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Englewood High School is a public high school located on Jacksonville, Florida's southside.Rich in tradition and pride, Englewood High School was constructed in 1956 and exemplifies the concept of a "neighborhood school." Located on on the Southside of Jacksonville, Florida, this school is one of...
, and was his high school team's placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
in his senior year.
Having unsuccessfully applied for a football scholarship at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Safi instead played one year of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Thomas University
Thomas University
Thomas University is a four-year coeducational private university located in Thomasville, Georgia, United States. Thomas University offers students associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees. Thomas University provides education to traditional and non-traditional students...
in Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
in 2005, before transferring to Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
as a sophomore. As a senior in 2008 he led the his Jacksonville team in scoring with 10 goals in 21 appearances, and finished his collegiate career with 15 goals and five assists in 57 matches.
Professional
After an unsuccessful trial with New England RevolutionNew England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in the summer of 2009, Safi attended open tryouts held by the Carolina RailHawks in early 2010. After impressing head coach Martin Rennie
Martin Rennie
Martin Rennie is a Scottish soccer coach and is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer. He was signed to a multi-year contract by Vancouver on 9 August 2011.-Coaching career:...
, Safi was signed to his first professional contract by the RailHawks in March, 2010.
He was sent on loan to USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
side Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in July 2010, and made his professional debut for them on July 2, in a game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
On September 5, 2010, he scored his first professional goal in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Mexican side Pumas Morelos
Pumas Morelos
Pumas Morelos is a Mexican football club which plays in Coyoacán, Mexico City. They compete in the Liga de Ascenso division, and are the satellite team to Club Universidad Nacional.-Stadium:...
.
Safi was not listed on the 2011 roster for Carolina released on April 4, 2011.