Class of 2012 graduate Eddie Puskarich is living his dream. Signing a contract to play soccer professionally with Odder IGF of the Danish second division, Puskarich is in his first week with the club.

The Red Ledger’s Darby Blaylock caught up with Puskarich and finds out why Puskarich left SMU and headed to Europe.

The Red Ledger: How was your time at Lovejoy? How was playing soccer/football?

Puskarich: “My time at Lovejoy was really memorable. So many sports memories from my time there will stay with me forever I think. Really great time with really great people and staff. Playing soccer and football at Lovejoy is definitely what made my time there so memorable, football especially. It’s sort of funny because soccer is my number one sport, yet it seemed as though I was known as “the kicker” before Lovejoy soccer player. But seeing as how big high school football can be in Texas, I didn’t mind too much. Both teams were so talented, and both gave me so many memories.”

The Red Ledger: Has this always been a goal for you?

Puskarich: “What I’m doing now has always been my goal. Now I’m not saying I accomplished my goal, because I have a lot more I would like to accomplish. But ever since I can remember, I’ve only wanted to do one thing with my life, and that’s be a professional.”

The Red Ledger: What’s next?

Puskarich: “My next goal is definitely to just move up in the ranks. I’m in the second division in Denmark right now, which is the third tier of professional soccer. I think it is the perfect place to gain experience and move up to bigger and better teams, ultimately being noticed and called into a U.S. National team camp. I have many friends who have been called into the younger camps before, and I am very jealous of them, a healthy jealous though.”

The Red Ledger: Why did you leave SMU?

Puskarich: “SMU gave me a great two years and I’ll always be thankful for that. It just was not the right fit for me and sometimes that happens. Not every place I go to will be perfect, and I think that’s life. Sometimes things just don’t mesh and you have to realize when to move on. I still follow them, almost as if I never left, because I still wish the absolute best for them.”

The Red Ledger: You had a couple other offers, what made you choose Odder IFG?

Puskarich: “I didn’t have too many other offers, but of those that did come after me, Odder just seemed the right pick for me. They accommodated me and made me feel very important and loved, which I think is a huge aspect needed to be successful, so I felt it was a no brainer.”

The Red Ledger:What is the process in moving overseas?

Puskarich: “Moving overseas can be quite tough without the right paperwork, but I was able to avoid that with the help of the club. What would have happened at first, because I joined with about four months left in the season, is that I would only have been able to stay on a tourist visa, which lasts 90 days meaning I would have to leave early and miss the last part of the season. But the club found me a place to stay at a local school, sort of like a junior college, and if I took a few classes, for example Danish language and sports, I could apply for a student visa and stay as long as the school year is in session. So now I can stay the whole season and leave in the middle of November.”

The Red Ledger:When do you start playing?

Puskarich: “I made my debut on August 23rd, and I am all cleared to play through the U.S. and Danish Federation so I get to keep playing the entire season.”

The Red Ledger: What’s it like living in a foreign country?

Puskarich: “Living in a foreign country, for me, is spectacular. I’ve grown traveling a lot with my dad and his teams to play in tournaments and train with teams, so Europe has shaped me in a way. Being able to actually live here and stay is here is amazing to me. The food is very different, and the weather sucks compared to Texas, and the Danish language is one of the most difficult languages in the world, but the soccer culture that lacks in the states is more than made up over here and I could not be any happier.”