Wednesday field move - SMN

We will be playing at Shawnee Mission North on Wednesdays at 5:30pm.  If the main field is in use, we will try the practice field just west of the main field, behind the large grandstand.  Hope you can make it!

One-time field change - Sat. Mar, 19

SMN is booked tomorrow. We will play at Maple Hills Park, 85th and Switzer, 9 am.

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.

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.

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

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.