One of the main reasons I wanted to be a part of the Town FC was to give back to the Town that gave so much to me. 

Fleeing Bosnia at a young age I had a lot of questions. A lot of why’s and no answers. My biggest question was “why did we have to leave home and when are we going back”. We lived in a few cities in Germany before moving to Oakland. Germany is where I found my love and passion for soccer. I was always anticipating the day that we would move back home but right before my family moved to Oakland it finally hit me that we were not going home!

When we moved to Oakland I was in my early teens trying to find my identity. Oakland was TOUGH, LOVE, RESILIENCE. Oakland was a cultural melting pot. Oakland adopted me and made me feel at home again. Growing up in Oakland you felt a sense of pride for everything Oakland. Everywhere I went I took that pride with me. I always wished I had the opportunity to play for my Town, so now I want to make that opportunity come true for the next generation.

Being Oakland grown means a lot of things. But for me, it means giving back so that who and what can grow next can have better circumstances than what grew before it.  I’m excited to pursue that effort with The Town FC and to keep growing within my community, and home.

~ Zlatan Kuckovic