Monday, February 28, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Simon Walley

Where were you born?
I was born in Crewe in North West England.


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I arrived in Kansas City in July 2010 following a job relocation.  Previously I lived in Harrisburg, PA., Santa Rosa, CA., Wellington, New Zealand and Swindon, England.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
Manchester United I have followed them for as long as I can remember thanks to my Uncle Duncan.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
Getting a teddy bear at about four years old with a Manchester United kit on it.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
Dane Broadie and I work together and he told me about the group.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
I look after the food enzyme business for my company in NAFTA and the coolest thing my company can do is turn sugar into car tires using enzymes.  Click on the link below to learn more:

http://www.genencor.com/wps/wcm/connect/genencor/genencor/products_and_services/business_development/biochemicals/in_focus_bioisoprene/bioisoprene_en.htm

On the personal front I have two beautiful daughters aged 21 months and 6 months and a wonderful wife who doesn’t flip out when I take off on Saturday mornings to play soccer.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Nyk Edinger

Where were you born?
I was born in Bismarck, North Dakota and grew up across the Missouri River in Mandan, ND. (Sorry Troy but your answer was so well worded!)


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I arrived in Olathe, Kansas in August of 1987 to play soccer for MidAmerica Nazarene University.  We played one season. I started on the bench but after an injury to our starting keeper I started as keeper for several matches until I, too, was put on crutches and finished the season watching from the sidelines. They cut the team the following summer.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
I have supported the Wizards/Sporting since the day we heard there was a possibility of their existence.  I attended the opening match at Arrowhead and had attended most home matches until I moved back to North Dakota in 2004 and have attended at least 1 match each year since I left. I also support Hannover 96, Die Roten!!, in the Bundesliga.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
The day I learned of its existence.  I transferred to a private school in Mandan in 1981 (the same school as Troy) and the guys played this game called soccer at this school.  I never heard of it much less played it so I was stuck between the posts (probably two jackets or cones, I don't remember) and loved it! The following year I joined the team as an 8th grader and have played ever since.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
Troy and I grew up together in North Dakota and both attended the same University in Olathe and both remained living in Olathe after College so one day we set out to find a place to kick the ball around outdoors on Saturday mornings and eventually decided upon Maple Hills Park. Some days it was just him and I in 4 inches of snow but eventually other great guys joined us and I am privileged to have met and shared the pitch with each of them!


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
Most of you don't know me at all but for those that do, you might not know that I have been a vocalist in a death/black metal band since 1989 and am currently recording my 8th cd.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Tunde Ogunmekan

If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria the capital, I came here in 1980 to join my parents who were ambassadors to the US, the family had travelled quite a bi at the time living in New Delhi in India, London in UK and Rabat in Morocco. When the opportunity came to visit here I figured I’d go to college then leave soon as I was done. Started a business in college, got naturalized ( my mum is citizen) and been here ever since.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
As I kid I supported the Shooting Stars of Ibadan and The Green Eagles (later Super Eagles) of Nigeria, the best 11 team ever in all soccer was the team that was robbed of the chance to play in world cup because of internal politics, it featured the mathematician (Segun Odegbami) who would dribble on the line from the his own 30 yards all the way to opponents 18 then take a shot from a ridiculous angle and SCORE!! That’s why they called him the mathematician, from the goalie (Best Ogedengbe) to defender ( Pat Okpala) midfield (Muda Lawal) wingers (Adokiye Emeka) it stacked here is link from the African Cup of Nations :

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/forum/sports/57064-1980-anc-green-eagles-nostalgia.html


When a got older and politics started to dominate national team selection I became a staunch Chelsea fan, have been even though we SUCK right now.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
My earliest is the afore mentioned Cup of Nations with video link above, I was already a fan, that made me a foaming at the mouth frenzied, play with a broken bone fanatic of the game.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
Atabong I believe invited me to my first game way back in the stone age 2005, its feels like such a long time now, I can bealy remember anymore. I do remember meeting Troy, Tom, Wasim, Johnny, Bill, Annette and Afam and saying what an eclectic and great group of guys. Many moons and haven step on someone’s toes about 20 times later, I think I’ve missed a total of 6 Saturday’s (other than weather or cancellations) since then.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group will know?
This might come as a shock to most but I’m black, I know! I Know! Imagine my surprise when a found out! And oh I love my Youngs Park family

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Wasim Zaman

Where were you born?
I was born in Bangladesh.


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I came to USA in 1991 to go to College. I went to Emporia State University and studied Marketing and Economics.  After graduating in 1995, I worked in Emporia for 5 years. I moved to KC in 2000 to be with my then fiance and now wife.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
I do not have a favorite team. I follow English Premier League and often find myself supporting any smaller club playing against Man U, Chelsea, or Arsenal. I do support the Wizards when I watch them play.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
My dad started to take me to watch Division 1 soccer games in Bangladesh since I was a little boy. It involved riding a bus, rickshaw, and walking to get there and avoiding the riots often broke out after the major soccer games. Those are my earliest and some of the best memories in life.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
Tom was my neighbor and he introduced me to this game in 2002. We used to play at Maple Hills Park then. It was a very challenging time for us as we often didn't have enough players to play a decent game. 4 v 4 was a rare and exciting event. We had to beg people to come out and play. Troy and Tom put in tremendous amount of effort in promoting and maintaining this game. It is very gratifying to see our group grow.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
Everyone tells me that I am pretty competitive.......I continue to deny it. I don't like to lose though.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Bill Lepentis

Where were you born?
Sydney, Australia


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
My parents immigrated to Australia from Greece after the Greek Civil War. Around 1974, my mother’s kid brother passed-away while we were visiting Greece. Actually, my parents were considering moving the family back there, but the death obviously shook my mother enough to stop the process and we decided to stay in Australia. Sixth months later, my mother’s close cousin also passed away. My mother had another brother living in KC and in 1976, we decided to move here to be closer to his family. This must have done the trick because we’ve lived here ever since. I haven’t ventured far; only to The University of Kansas for school. My parents eventually retired and moved to Chicago.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
Arsenal FC (as a fanatic)
AEK Athens (as a religion)
Greek MNT (as a rite-of-passage)
+
Sydney Roosters (Rugby League Club)


What is your earliest soccer memory?
We won our division in Sydney when I was seven and a few months later, moved to KC. My parents had some Greek friends who were affiliated with the Roeland Park (Kansas) Soccer Club, and enrolled me into one of the youth clubs. I’ve been playing organized and pick-up ever since including a semester of “club” at The University of Kansas.


How did you find the Youngs Park Game?
I walked-on the Loose Park Wednesday night game and made a few friends. One of them was Johnny “ONE MORE” Vazquez. He mentioned that a few of the Loose Park crew played Saturdays at Young’s Park. That’s when my park-league skills really excelled.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group will know?
I was one of “The Best In Soccer” as picked by local metro coaches for 1986-1987 season. That obviously took me places…

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Jürgen Hoedel

Where were you born?
In a small town called Geislingen an der Steige in the south of Germany – it has the distinction of featuring the steepest railroad grade of any major railway line in Europe. The same steep grade prompted some robber baron to build a fortress about a thousand years ago in order to extract money from travelers and wagon trains for safe passage. Today the German railway just charges exorbitant ticket prices for the same privilege.


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I went to KU as a grad student (they actually paid me to go to school – go figure) where I met my wife. After living with her in Germany for ten years nobody was any longer willing to extend us any credit – that’s why we moved here in 1996. Oh, she was also tired of the weather in Central Europe and the unfriendly attitude of my compatriots. Don’t know how my attitude slipped through the cracks for so long.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
I am a stout (literally!) supporter of Bayern Munich and the German national team. I am also an avid fan of all teams in the US lingerie league.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
First of all, we don’t erroneously call it soccer where I come from. I guess it would be playing ‘Fussball’ with my uncle in the backyard. And then the legendary non-goal in the 1966 World Cup Final. We finally got even with the English last year.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
I have GPS. No, I am an old teammate of Troy’s from back when he still used to show up for our Friday noon games at All-American, before he let work interfere with fun.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
I have a right foot so I don’t fall down when I kick with my left – no wait, everybody knows that. I guess it would be that in my case, the older I get, the better I was.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Sunday game is at noon

Those who voted for the noon start time have prevailed! Hope you can make it out this week!

Who Are Ya!! - Tom Reynolds

Where were you born?
I was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1953. Although Southern and Eastern European immigrants brought soccer to Western Pennsylvania around the turn of the last century, it had practically disappeared by the time I came of age.


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
I moved to Kansas City in 1980, after serving a brief stint as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Guatemala and Venezuela. At the time, we were looking for a place that offered both family support and job prospects. I was reluctant to raise a family in New Jersey where Mary and I attended Rutgers University, but Western Pennsylvanua was not an option.: The steel industry had recently collapsed and the local economy was in a severe crisis.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
My favorite soccer team of all time is the New York Cosmos. I was living in New Jersey during the late 70's Cosmos heyday and attended many good games against such foes as World Champion Argentina, Bayern Munich, the Peoples Republic of China etc. I also met and briefly chatted with Pele during his second week in the U.S., while he was filming a kids' soccer clinic for network television. (We gained admission to Downing Stadium on Randalls Island when my Dad flashed his police badge.) During that time, I saw many notable players compete either for or against the Cosmos: Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Mueller, Roberto Rivelino, Eusebio, George Best, Carlos Alberto, Giorgio Chinaglia, a 17 year-old Maradona, and of course, Pele.

I currently enjoy watching F.C Barcelona dismember their opponents and continue to root for the two big teams from Medellin, Colombia (Atletico Nacional and DIM).


What is your earliest soccer memory?
One of my earliest soccer memories involves trying to stay awake while watching U.S. based pro soccer when it was first televised regularly in 1967. I actually started playing as a high-school exchange student in Ecuador; then later as a college student in Colombia. Upon returning from South America, I introduced the sport to my hometown friends and later played regular pick-up games in New Brunswick, New Jersey and Pittsburgh.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
Regarding what would become the Youngs Park game, I first met Troy in 2001 (?) after my sons observed a small group playing in Maple Hill Park. Troy was gracious and welcoming on that occasion and I like to think we have continued in that spirit.


Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
One thing people may not know about me are my politics: I consider myself both a Christian and socialist. Subsequently, I have major problems with both U.S. domestic and foreign policy. However, when it comes to soccer, I am proud to be an American player and I avidly support our U.S. National Team.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

No games this weekend

The games for Saturday and Sunday have both been called off this week.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Who Are Ya!! - Bill Black

Where were you born?
Detroit, Michigan


If you were not born in the Kansas City area, when did you arrive and what circumstances brought you to KC?
We arrived in 2006 when June and I took positions as professors at UMKC.  Galen, our youngest, moved to KD with us from our home in Northern California.


What team(s) do you support as a fan?
Newell’s Old Boys.  Rosario, Argentina.


What is your earliest soccer memory?
I started playing soccer when I was 23.


How did you find the Youngs Park game?
 I learned of the Young’s Park game from Troy.  We were both playing at Rockhurst U.



Can you tell us something about yourself that not everyone in the group would know?
I was Charles Keating’s (Lincoln S&L) least favorite regulator.  He hired private investigators twice to investigate me, sued me for $400 million, and famously instructed his chief political fixer:  “Highest Priority:  Get Black … Kill Him Dead.”  In context, this was almost certainly merely an order to get me fired.  That effort was joined by Speaker of the House Jim Wright.  I’m a serial whistleblower, including blowing the whistle on Speaker Wright.  My notes of the meeting with the “Keating Five” (five U.S. Senators who Keating induced to try to keep us from taking enforcement action against Keating’s Lincoln S&L) helped prompt the Senate ethics investigation.  I have a genius for making friends in high places, which is consistent with being dumb enough to put my body in the way of a screaming soccer ball.  Yeah defenders!

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