Sydney Wathuta Hive Assemble: “He’s a Beautiful Footballer.”

Commerce City, CO – Sydney Wathuta is in his first year of professional football. After calling him as a Colorado Rapids target in last year’s SuperDraft, the National Champion is living up to the hype.

The 21-year-old was born in South Africa, though is family is from Kenya. They moved to Canada when Sydney was at a young age. He’s certainly brought an immigrant mentality.

“It’s been impressed on our family. They moved to Canada. Tried to give me and my sisters a better life. Best thing I can do is pay that forward,” the reserved winger told Burgundy Wave.

Wathuta played for a local team growing up before joining the Under-20s at new CPL side Cavalry FC. Shortly after, he made the move to Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2023, he played two MLS NEXT Pro game for Whitecaps 2 as an academy call up. After that, Wathuta decided to play college soccer, heading to the University of Vermont.

“I just wanted to do school and play soccer at the same time. I didn’t want to stay in Canada. More opportunities here (in America),” he explained. “Family first program. Nobody’s bigger than the team. That was a big thing. As a player, I grew a lot. They put emphasis on me to deliver from my first year to my second year.”

In his sophomore season, he had 14 assistant, the second most in all of Division 1 NCAA Men’s Soccer. He was an important piece in Vermont’s road to the National Championship. They beat Sam Bassett and the DU Pioneers in the Final Four. Wathuta’s been a good teammate and hasn’t brought it up to him.

Then they beat Marshall 2-1 in overtime in the Final. That game was a blur for Wathuta. He’s very reserved and soft spoken off the field, but comes alive during training and games. He said humbly that the National Championship ring is going in a drawer probably.

After the Natty, it was apparent Wathuta was going pro.

“I did a few (interviews). (Colorado) was the second or third. Conversation was great. I thought coming off of that that I would be coming here.”

Colorado Rapids took Wathuta with the 16th overall pick weeks later in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft. He got an invite to join the first team in preseason down in Mexico where he met R2 head coach Erik Bushey.

“We were able to meet and get first impressions. His technical skill hits you pretty quick. He has an interesting demeanor. There is a fire that burns in him, but he doesn’t wear that on his sleeve. That was apparent early on,” Bushey told Burgundy Wave.

Wathuta joined most of his fellow draft picks with Rapids 2. In the regular season, he recorded 6 goals and 3 assists in 18 appearances. This while, splitting training time with the first team. He’s improved tactically while still being a very technical player. He had an assist in a playoff win at The Town FC to send Rapidos to the Western Conference Final.

“Definitely tactical. College is different than professional game. Being cleaner overall on the ball. Their first touch, their first pass. I have to be more polished,” Wathuta said. “Try and grow. Don’t take it as a trial. Grow as a player. Continue to be better each day.”

“He’s getting close to realizing that potential. That he’s producing while he’s learning, that’s pretty good. He does have much to learn. That just goes to show how high his ceiling is. He’s been one of the best players, never mind to coach, to watch throughout the season,” Bushey added.

“He has improved in his ability to press, tenacity in transition. Those elements might not be natural to him.”

August saw the Rapids play a congested schedule with Leagues Cup, where Wathuta got four short term call ups. He made his MLS debut in a home game against Atlanta United. He was so excited, he forgot to show up for the postgame mixed zone. He got his first start in a Leagues Cup match against Conca Champions Cruz Azul. Three minutes in, he got the primary assist on a Rafael Navarro goal.

“I just tried to hit it in his general direction. Came off cleaner than I expected,” he laughed. “That was probably one of the most tiring games I played, on a fitness standpoint.”

What’s really impressive is how Wathuta has looked like himself when playing up a level. In first team training and in a game against a Liga MX team, he was creative on the ball. He did good work in tight spaces. He pressed and facilitated the counter attack. All while not being a defensive liability.

He’s still a raw talent but is so close to being a viable first team player in 2026.

“When players can look like themselves, that’s a positive sign. His greatest strengths are on the ball. He wasn’t phased. That’s going to represent him well,” said Bushey.

“He’s rich in potential. He is a beautiful footballer. His ability to manipulate the ball and make it look effortless is excellent. He believes in himself that he can score from anywhere. End product is, in many ways, going to define him.”

If he brings that end product to future first team opportunities and continues to improve his defensive work rate, he could be another Rapids SuperDraft diamond in the rough. Given his story, who he is as a person off the field, and how exciting he is to watch, it’s hard not to root for him.

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