It’s been a month and a day since I ended my 4 and a half year stay in the Uptown/Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. I moved there with my brother in February of 2002 and went through many changes in my life during that 4 year spell.
It was there I cultivated my deep fondness for Soccer. The ritual for every saturday was to watch the premiership in the morning and then immediately after, drive to a soccer field for Zambezi FC’s games. North Kenmore was where I gradually built my confidence and stamina in the game. During the Greenview days, I felt like an unstoppable commander in chief of Zambezi’s strike force. And at Malden, many events signalled that the end was nigh. Barren seasons, injuries, poor fitness level, and frustration reminded me that the fun was over.
So now I’ve gotten to the acceptance stage and have come to terms with the fact that I may not be able to play competitive soccer for 90 minutes without any repercussions during the days after. Still, sometimes, I’m very willing to risk it.
Chicago’s north did not only bring soccer. There was the night life phase, the house party phase, the work work work phase, fall in… and out of love phase, and the get ready for the next chapter phase.
All in all, I enjoyed my time there. But I’m looking forward eagerly to what the South Loop has to offer.
