By Russell Stiger Jr. | OBSERVER Staff Writer
The offseason is a time to improve your skills, renew your excitement and get ready to attack the upcoming year with an improved skill set. Former Austin FC and Sacramento native Amobi Okugo, spent his Saturday afternoon at the Mack Road Community Center helping kids improve skills and scrimmage.
The fact that a local pro player is giving back his time to the community adds a different level of excitement for kids at the camp. Candice Lewis said her son DeAngelo Lewis plays other sports but was very excited to participate in the soccer camp because he was able to rub shoulders with Okugo.
The feeling was mutual. While kids are excited about being able to participate in a pro players camp, Okugo was just as excited to be able to hold a camp 10 minutes away from where he grew up.
“Being able to grow up in Sacramento, and travel the world to play the game I love — now that I’m back home — you know [I’m trying to] put some roots down, trying to give back to the community,” he said.
After playing for 12 years, Okugo’s last team folded but he has not officially retired. If he walks away from the game, he hopes to make a different type of impact working with athletes on financial advice and investments.