Kelechi Mbah spent his first two years of high school at Leo, which does not have a soccer team, so he stuck with playing the sport he has loved since he was 4 years old strictly on the club level.
But when Mbah’s family moved and he transferred to T.F. North, he was thrilled to get the chance to play high school soccer.
“It was a shock at first, but I’m getting back into it,” Mbah said. “High school soccer is a lot different from club because it’s very physical and there’s a lot of teamwork required.
“I feel like you’ve got to really be in touch with your team to do well.”
Mbah is now in his second season with T.F. United, and the senior midfielder is carving out a big role as a first-time starter. He scored his first goal of the fall Wednesday, leading the hosts to a 2-0 win over Homewood-Flossmoor in Calumet City.
David Lopez also scored for T.F. United (3-2), while Omar Reyes had an assist and Oswaldo Mendoza made four saves to record the shutout for T.F. United (3-2).
Jefferson Mansfield finished with eight saves for H-F (1-3).
With T.F. United clinging to a 1-0 lead and the Vikings putting on a steady dose of pressure, Mbah provided some breathing room with 30 minutes left in the game, ripping in a shot from 20 yards.
“It feels good,” said Mbah, who scored two goals last year. “I know I can help the team more this season by just doing what I did (Wednesday). Being active, communicating, doing the small things and scoring.”
T.F. United coach Alejandro Lagunas is excited to see Mbah progressing and becoming a bigger part of the team.
“His first time with the program was last year, so he was trying to figure out what we do,” Lagunas said. “He seems more comfortable now. He’s been close in our other games, but luckily he finally got one in (Wednesday). He’s doing a nice job.”
Mbah’s mother, Deva, is from Illinois and his father, Paul, was born in Nigeria.
“My dad dabbled in soccer a bit, but he wasn’t as good as me,” Mbah said. “My mom played basketball so I kind of had that athletic gene.”
Mendoza is the lone returning starter from last season, when T.F. United went 14-5-3.
He stepped up in a big way Wednesday, highlighted by a sequence midway through the second half when he stopped back-to-back good looks from H-F’s Damian Lopez.
“He was great,” Lagunas said of Mendoza. “But he’s been doing that quite a bit. He’s a great shot blocker. He had a heck of a game.”
Joaquin Terrazas, Sebastian Ruiz and Julian Gonzalez led the defensive effort in front of Mendoza.
Mendoza, who is T.F. United’s leader, is trying to teach his younger teammates what it takes to be successful.
“I just want to show these guys that talent is a good thing to have in soccer but what’s most important is your work ethic, coming to practice and giving 100% every day and all that,” he said.
Mendoza is looking for some of his teammates to step into bigger roles, including Mbah, who appears ready for a breakthrough season after coming off the bench as a junior.
“Last year, he wasn’t really a rotational player, but he put the work in over the summer,” Mendoza said of Mbah. “When we had camp, he’d come work with me outside of camp and stuff like that.
“I like that, and it’s paid off.”
Mbah, meanwhile, is sure having fun playing soccer with his classmates, something he didn’t get a chance to do at Leo.
“Coming out of class and seeing teammates, talking about games,” Mbah said. “That’s stuff you don’t normally get to do with your club team, so it’s nice.
“It’s really a lot of fun.”
