International influence surging on Iowa's soccer fields

From playing in the streets as a kid growing up 7,000 miles from Iowa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to his mazy runs down the left wing for Iowa City High, soccer brings joy to Gaby Baloci.

Baloci's skills have helped guide the Little Hawks to an undefeated regular season and the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A heading into Wednesday's substate semifinal against Pleasant Valley.

'He loves the game, he lives for the game, he breathes the game,' City head coach Jose Michel Fajardo said. 'He's a player who can resolve games individually.'

Leroy Enzugusi was born in Kenya and moved to the U.S. with his family when he was 5. He has lived in Marion since fifth grade. Last season Enzugusi helped Linn-Mar to its first state title in boys' soccer. This season he was named the 2015-16 Iowa Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

'His talent has given our team a different look and feel,' Linn-Mar head coach Corey Brinkmeyer said.

Over the past few years, an increasing number of talented foreign-born players — especially Africans like Baloci and Enzugusi — have competed on teams across Iowa. It just so happens these two are on teams with a shot at a Class 3A state title.

Coaches Fajardo and Brinkmeyer said they first noticed this trend four or five years ago. Before that the only international players they coached were exchange students.

This recent growth in African-born soccer players in Iowa's high schools follows national immigration patterns.

From 2000 to 2013, the number of African immigrants arriving in the U.S. increased 41 percent — more than doubling the number of African immigrants living in the U.S., according to census data. The African-born population is almost 15 percent of the foreign-born immigrant population of Iowa City and is 9 percent in Cedar Rapids. These numbers are census bureau estimates, but between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City there are thousands of African-born immigrants, many of whom have moved here recently. The Census Bureau projects this trend to continue.

Soccer, through its global popularity, has become an important mechanism of socialization for many of these kids as it largely transcends nationality and language.

'They can come out here and just play, even if there is a language barrier,' Brinkmeyer said. 'There's enough non-verbals ... they can still get the ball at their feet.'

Baloci is inspired by FC Barcelona and Argentinean soccer star Lionel Messi. He watches elite players like Messi with his City High teammates. These laughter-filled gatherings serve as a soccer lesson and a team bonding exercise. He makes friends through soccer. His teammates love him.

'Team dinners are so much fun. He's always in a good mood.' City High midfielder Victor Brown-Rodriguez said. 'Gaby is one of the only people who I've rarely seen not smiling, not chatting it up.'

Fajardo and Brinkmeyer acknowledge the vast differences between how American-born and African-born players are schooled in the game. A childhood of playing street soccer is a very different initiation into the sport than AYSO and American soccer camps.

'It's given us some options that we previously have really never seen before, a talent level that we are not used to,' Brinkmeyer said. 'It's almost a second nature.'

Due to the different kind of training from a young age, African-born players tend to excel physically and technically but often require more tactical coaching. Any difficulties the differences bring to the coaches are well worth it for the many positives.

'They bring physicality, they bring the passion for the game, they are tireless,' Fajardo said. 'They are very good at 1-v-1s, they are fearless at 1-v-1s.'

Work ethic and attitude at practice is another consistent plus. Enzugusi uses the state-of-the-art facilities at Linn-Mar as an added motivation during training.

'There are people in Kenya who would die for the opportunities people here have,' Enzugusi said. 'Every practice I'm thinking, 'There's a player in Kenya who would love to play in these types of facilities.''

Despite the differences in backgrounds, the differences in tactical and technical development, and even some differences in language, the American-born and foreign-born players generally mesh well and learn from each other.

'They've completely embraced it. They've become brothers on and off the field,' Brinkmeyer said. 'Soccer in the area has grown by leaps and bounds and a lot of that is due to the international influence that we've had.'

l Comments: adam.wesley@thegazette.com