old. First, he was able to pick up English soon after arriving, leaving behind any traces of an accent; and secondly, he fell in love with a sport that was as foreign to him as funnel cakes and the rodeo. While Abel’s native language is Tigrinya, he also spoke what he called only simple English when he first moved to Texas. So, he said he fixed that by talking a lot in the fifth grade, his first year here. He wanted practice and it worked.   “I didn’t want to be looked at as an outsider,” he said. The next thing on Abel’s to-do list in his new home was to assimilate into the culture. Coming to a state where football madness is a way of life for most, and the sport is revered from an early age, Abel had never seen the game. Ever. Seems unimaginable to most, but he had never even seen a pick up game in the neighborhood. Never saw it in a magazine, or even on TV. In Eritrea he played soccer and basketball, but the game of football was new and different. One day in the sixth grade Abel caught a football game being played on TV. It was the first time he ’d seen the sport. He was immediately hooked.   “I didn’t know why it was called football if they were using their hands,” he said. “But I liked it right away. I thought to myself that I wanted to play.” The following year as a seventh-grader, football season rolled around, and Abel was front and center to be put on the roster. According to his coach, Mike Pekar, knowing very little about the game worked to his advantage. “He was very green when he first started, which made it easier for him to pick up the game. He excelled faster than most because of his lack of knowledge and skill for the game. Abel works hard to be better than the person in front of him, to the side of him and behind him, ” he said. Abel agreed that he come in totally new to the sport, probably more so than the others. He said he struggled a little at first. The first few weeks he had some problems understanding the plays and he thought learning the rules was hard. But then he realized that he only needed to know his own position and from then on things got easier.   Abel plays middle linebacker on defense and tackle on offense. His coach said he has great speed, loves contact and is a natural at the defensive position. Just as important, Abel believes he has what it

takes to be a good team member. “I’m easy to get along with,” said Abel. “I pump everyone up.” Abel’s parents are proud of their son. His dad, Ambesajer, and his mom, Akberet, believe that playing football will make him strong. Coach Pekar is proud of Abel, too, because of his dedication to whatever sport is in season. “He always leads by example on and off the field. Abel will be a productive citizen one day in our society. Also, a lot of credit goes to his parents. They have raised a fine young man. ” While Abel is happy to be here enjoying what he says is “the freedom to do what you want to do,” he pointed out that the schools in America are very different from what he experienced in Eritrea. For instance, the class size is much larger there and they lack the abundant materials that are available here. “There are no computers in the classroom. Just chalk and a board.” Yet, with all the advantages Abel realizes he has here, there are things he misses about his home. “I miss my family. I miss my friends. In America, kids stay in the house a lot or play on the computer, but in my country we play outside until it gets late. I used to play soccer outside with my friends until 9 p.m. ” Abel has not been back to visit since moving to Texas and was sad that his grandfather died a few months ago and never made it to America.   “My family is hoping my grandmother will come here to live. I think she will move. I ’ll be able to go back and visit Eritrea when I’m an adult and I can buy my own ticket.” Abel’s plans for high school next year include playing soccer and basketball, but they are more centered on football. He hopes to be a linebacker on the Taylor High School team. And after that, he has plans for playing college football in Texas, while earning a medical degree. His coach believes football could be in his future beyond high school.   “He will excel at the sport. I expect to be watching him on Sundays one day.”l