Roxbury product Meny Silva made history when he became the first member of the Revolution Academy to make the direct jump to Revolution II when he was signed to the inaugural USL League One roster in January. The proud Cape Verdean made the leap to the second team after nearly two years in the Academy, including time in the residency program, and has since appeared in the first three preseason contests, all starts, proving that he is more than ready to compete at the League One level. Let’s learn more about the Academy product.

1. The Highest Level

Silva joined the Revolution Academy in 2017 after stints with Hammer Academy and Valeo FC. The Roxbury native said he was drawn to the Revolution Academy because “it was a closer step towards becoming a professional soccer player. The Revolution develops players and gives them all the tools while forcing the players to work for it.”

2. Feeling At Home

Silva was one of the first four members of the Revolution Academy’s pilot residency program. He believes the residency program is great because it is run by “people who care about us and want to see us at our peak performance.” In addition to on-field development, the residency has helped Silva progress academically as well, with dedicated staff to keep him on track with his online studies. His proximity to the Revolution Training Center makes it easy for him to train and stay in shape, while also helping him grow outside from the game. Though Silva admits he had to make sacrifices like leaving his friends and family to move into the residency, the residency has helped inspire him to work harder to achieve his goals.

3. Making Memories

Since he has joined the Revolution Academy, Silva believes “the competition against other top-level players of the same age has allowed me to learn more and understand the game better.” He has seen those intense battles against other elite players raise his own game, noting milestones along the way like when he scored his first volley in training, or when he tallied two goals in a DA Cup match to help the Revolution U-19 team qualify for the playoffs.

4. Cape Verde Proud

Born in Praia, the capital city of Cape Verde, Silva remains proudly connected to his cultural heritage. He pays frequent visits back to his birthplace, a destination Silva says is his favorite vacation spot. He also frequently turns to Cape Verdean delicacies including his favorite food called Catchupa – a slow-cooked stew of corn, beans, cassava, sweet potato, and meat.

Here are some more fun facts about Meny:

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and Cream
Favorite Music Artist: NBA Youngboy
Favorite TV Show: The Walking Dead
Favorite Sport outside of soccer: Basketball
Animal you identify with the most: Cheetah
If you could be anything besides a pro soccer player, what would it be: Doctor
If a movie was made about you, which actor would you choose to play yourself: Brett Gray