The start of college marks the beginning of a new chapter of one's adolescent life. Between moving away from home, adapting to a new way of living, and joining new activities, the beginning of college is a tricky balancing game.
For Ousman Garba, not only did he start attending and playing soccer for NNU at the beginning of this season, but he also came to NNU all the way from Yaoundé, Cameroon.
"I've been playing soccer since I was two years old, so needless to say, it's always been a really big part of my life."Â
After starting high school in Florida at Citizens High School, Garba headed back to Cameroon for his sophomore year of high school. Little did he know that the connections he made at Citizens would eventually aid him in finding his way to Nampa.Â
"The reason I ended up at NNU was because of one of my coaches in Florida who reached out to the NNU coach to help me get on his radar."
A mutual connection between two coaches on opposite ends of the country ended up aiding Garba in a brand new chapter of his life. As expected, the transition from his home to Nampa was an extensive one.
He is thankful for his teammates who have not only made the adjustment easier for him, but have also helped him learn and improve his game.
"It was easy to get adjusted to playing with the guys on the NNU soccer team," Garba says.Â
Though Garba grew up playing soccer his whole life in Cameroon, as well as a stint in the U.S., he still finds differences in game play regardless of where he is.Â
"The way that the guys play here is different than how I'm used to playing back home," he explains.
The style that soccer is played in America is different from how it is played in Africa. According to Garba, players in Africa are more reliant on their pace, energy and endurance. It is considered to be a much more physical game, whereas in America, soccer is centered more in technique. Players are more concerned with their skills and fundamentals. Â
Despite these differences, he stepped in and contributed immediately to the Nighthawks' program this season, playing in 16 of the 18 games and scoring a goal on Oct. 28 against Montana State Billings.Â
Though the environment, the players, and the location were all different, Garba is happy that he has still been able to find solidarity in the sport he had been playing for his entire life.
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