Born in Madrid, Spain, to a Spanish mother and a Ghanaian father, Miguel Kobby Adoboe has spent most of his life in Dallas, TX. Yet he remains closely connected to his roots, having frequently visited family in Spain and, though less often, Ghana, giving him a global perspective that has shaped this UVA Men’s Soccer midfielder’s experiences and more recently, guided him to McIntire in this, his third year at the University.
His decision to come to Grounds is intertwined with his lifelong interest in watching and playing soccer, a passion instilled in him by his father. “My dad is crazy about soccer,” he says. “I definitely inherited that love for the sport.” This profound interest led him to pursue soccer seriously from a young age. His first big steps in that direction occurred when he spent seventh grade living, learning, and playing in Spain.
“My parents wanted me to gain a cultural experience—and the soccer level is a lot better in Spain, especially at the youth levels,” he explains. “That kind of cultural understanding at a young age totally changes your perspective of the world. And luckily for me, soccer is embedded in Spanish culture. I realized that they see soccer a different way than we do.”
His intent to focus on bettering his abilities in the sport culminated a few years later, when he decided to return to Spain, taking a gap year after high school to refine his skills and immerse himself in a country where the game is more than a simple contest but rather, a way of life. “They are a lot more passionate about it, and playing it is a serious career even at the amateur levels. I wanted to be part of that.”
Though he maintains a strong connection to his mother’s home country, Adoboe’s decision to attend UVA was driven by both academic and athletic aspirations. The combination of earning an education from a top-tier school and the opportunity to play in the highly competitive ACC conference made the University an ideal choice. “I love UVA,” he says. “The name, the athletics, and the academics all played a big role in why I chose to come here.” Though he initially applied without an offer from Men’s Soccer, his persistence paid off when the team’s coaches reached out to him during his gap year, solidifying his decision to join the ‘Hoos.
When Adoboe arrived at the University for the first time—right as pre-season activities were ramping up—he was immediately struck by its picturesque quality and an arrangement that he saw as fostering a close-knit community. “I liked how dense Grounds were and how that gives you the ability to interact with so many people,” he reflects. Coming from his corner of Dallas, where he says greenspaces are harder to come by, he appreciated how Charlottesville’s natural surroundings enhanced the University’s aesthetic appeal. “Even from Klöckner Stadium, there’s a beautiful backdrop of mountains. When I got here, I loved it.”
Adoboe’s transition to college soccer brings with it the challenge of adjusting to a heightened level of competition and, in turn, limited playing time. He admits the situation has tested his mental toughness. “First year is a little weird. You come from a place where you were maybe the best player, and then you’re one of the youngest on the team, and maybe not playing as much as you think you should be,” he says. Yet the camaraderie and shared goals he has with his teammates have helped him stay focused and motivated. “The unity of the team, the competitiveness, and balancing life with soccer have been significant.”
The team’s shared goals of winning both individual games and ultimately a national championship have been instrumental in his experience, as has sharing the mission with such a high number of talented peers, many of whom intend to play soccer professionally. “There’s a drive, a hunger, a competitiveness, a willingness to push each other,” he says, singling out his roommate and fellow Texan, Reese Miller (A&S ’26), and Matthew Hunter (A&S ’25), who, being one year older, shared his institutional knowledge, helping give Adoboe perspective when he was navigating some unfamiliar situations.
While his time with the team has already proven invaluable, Adoboe’s academics have provided equally transformative moments.
Courses taken at the College of Arts & Sciences have been eye opening for Adoboe. He recalls taking a climate history class that deepened his understanding of the complex relationship between humans and the environment; a medical sociology class further broadened his perspective, revealing the inequalities in the U.S. healthcare system. These courses, along with many of the others, have reinforced his belief in the value of a well-rounded education.
His interest in business, particularly marketing, started in high school, when he was intrigued by sales, but it wasn’t until he arrived at UVA that he truly understood the breadth and depth of the field. Now, ongoing conversations with teammates who have gone through McIntire, as well as discussions with alumni like Beau Bradley (McIntire ’21), a former UVA soccer player now at Capital One, are shaping his current educational goals as well as his professional aspirations.
As he progresses through his first semester at McIntire, he’s completely open-minded about his whatever comes next. While he’s leaning toward concentrating in IT and Marketing, he acknowledges that he still has much to learn about what path will suit him best. In the short term, Adoboe is focused on staying healthy, contributing to his team in whatever way is possible, and making the most of the opportunities that come with studying at the Comm School. He knows that this is his time to excel in soccer, explore his interests, and prepare the foundation for a successful future.
