Still a little shy at 17 By Norman Kwong Toronto Inferno (July 25, 2002) This article appears in the July/August issue (#56) of Inside Soccer Magazine While some Toronto Inferno players might be refused admission into an R-rated movie, because they do not look 18 or over, Anne Ogundele is the only player with the Inferno who would still not be able to enter after showing proof of age. This Toronto Inferno goalkeeper will not see 18 candles on her birthday cake until December 13, 2002. At 17 years old, Ogundele is the youngest player on the Inferno. Anne fits most descriptions of a typical 17 year old. People that age usually have a job in a mall. Ogundele is a sales associate at a large retail chain. What most 17 year olds have in common is being faced with a refusal of services as a result of their age. The movie theatre example is just one of the things that those a year away from 18 are not old enough for. Even though Anne may sound like the classic 17 year old, she certainly is not. It would be tough to argue that there is such a thing as a typical 17 year old, a basis for all others that age. One thing for certain is that there is no specimen for which to compare every goalkeeper in soccer to. Sure, there are similar figures in other sports like goaltenders in hockey and catchers in baseball. In none of these three cases is there a blueprint to outline what those athletes should be like. These positions are filled by the oddities in sport (not including kickers in football who should really be playing soccer), by people who willingly try to stop high-speed projectiles flying in the air. These people are abnormal; they usually practice by themselves while the rest of their teammates work out together. In short, they are weirdoes. Anne Ogundele became a goalkeeper after playing defence, when one day in her earlier teenage years there was no one to play goal or no one weird enough to fill the void. Somehow Anne found herself in net that game and she has played that position since. She has played her way into the player pool for the Canadian national under-19 women's team and to a soccer scholarship with the University of Kentucky Wildcats. There have been numerous athletes in all sports who have used college athletics as an opportunity to reach their ultimate goal of making the professional leagues. Anne, in goalkeeper-like fashion, has a different perspective. She sees college athletics as an opportunity of helping her get an education. When she begins to study Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky in the fall, it will be her soccer skills that are helping to pay her way. This highly commendable perspective of putting her education first and soccer a close second would make Ogundele bizarre by today's standards, strange like a goalkeeper. Anne is certainly no stranger to Canada, having lived in Mississauga, Ontario her entire life and was born from Nigerian parents. Ogundele can speak a few words of her parent's native language Yoruba, but it would not be a strength like her ball handling skills as a goalkeeper. With most players her age, regardless of position, being a part of a team like the Inferno means a learning experience and a chance to hone her skills. Anne notes that her technique and timing are some things that she definitely has to work on and she can do that at Inferno practices and by watching how Inferno starting goalkeeper Leisha Alcia performs in games. Ogundele also takes notice of how Alcia communicates to her teammates so that she can improve upon her self-perceived shyness. Communication is another thing that sets goalkeepers apart from most players. They talk a lot on the field. Some stick to communicating with their defence, others may yell up to the forwards. Still, other goalkeepers may find a water bottle or goalposts to speak to. Anne tries to improve upon her communication with teammates every opportunity she gets, but does not talk to any inanimate objects on the field. Who can really expect her to talk to goalposts when she is still a little shy?
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