From Hungary to Wichita: soccer’s birth in the ICT
· Yahoo Sports
MULVANE, Kan. (KSNW) — The World Cup final is this Sunday, and soccer fever has been rising across the U.S. throughout the last month, but here in Wichita a connection to the game has been growing for decades.
The sport’s history in the city can be largely traced back to Hungarian immigrant Miki Lorik.
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Lorik left his home in Hungary in 1956 to escape Soviet oppression. At just 20 years old, Lorik guided his girlfriend and her family to Austria and eventually the United States. They arrived in New Jersey but settled here in Wichita when her father accepted a job in the ICT.
“If it wasn’t for her, I would not be here today,” Lorik said.
Looking back at every World Cup final ahead of Spain-ArgentinaLorik played on the first soccer team in Wichita, which consisted of players mostly in their 20s and 30s. They played teams from Kansas City and Tulsa, and soon youngsters began picking up the sport.
“They wanted their children to get in also, and we built soccer in Wichita from the ground so fast because they didn’t have to be seven feet tall, 250 pounds,” Lorik said.
Lorik started the first boys youth soccer program in the Air Capital. His daughters played alongside the boys, and at their urging, he began a girls program too.
“Miki has been very influential,” said Mike Pfeifer, who played for Lorik. “Everything that I learned, the foundation of my game and my attitude, and the way I played was taught to me by Miki.”
Sporting KC launches new program to attract new soccer fansPfeifer played in college and ultimately went on to coach and referee. He is just one example of Lorik’s impact as dozens of schools across Kansas now sponsor varsity soccer teams. But as the sport continues to grow, Miki remains humble.
“I think that if anybody else would be in my shoes, probably would have done the same thing because I don’t think anything is really special on my part that I did,” Lorik said.
Lorik’s influence goes beyond the pitch. He started an electronic manufacturing company, PWI, which his son now runs.
“We have the American Dream – a home, travel,” said Gabriella Lorik, Miki’s wife. “We traveled a lot. A wonderful family.”
“(We’re) incredibly lucky,” Miki said.
Lorik has been married for more than 60 years and is 90 years young. The game of soccer is still running deep in his family, as he now gets to watch his great-grandchildren on the pitch.
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