Sandburg’s Abed Hmeidan was born in Oak Lawn but spent part of his childhood growing up in Jordan. He has traversed the globe, finding the perfect emotional connection with soccer.
Along the way, the junior central midfielder also made great strides in unlocking his talent.
“I’ve really grown and developed mentally because last year I was not a good teammate,” Hmeidan said. ”I’m more calm and I have more respect for the older and even younger players.
“Started building that team chemistry.”
That aspect showed Wednesday as Hmeidan scored a goal and added an assist for the Eagles in a 4-2 win over host Reavis in a Windy City Ram Classic fifth-place bracket game in Burbank.
Sandburg (3-1) featured balanced scoring, with junior forward Ire Musayayi, junior midfielder Abdullah Ramadan and junior defender Diego Escobedo each scoring goals.
Senior midfielder Galileo Figueroa and senior defender Blake Stefanek also scored goals for Reavis (2-2).
Hmeidan blends size, power and speed into an imposing physical package. His emotional and personal development has optimized all sides of his game and style.
“He was one of three or four sophomores up on the varsity last year,” Sandburg coach Desi Vuillaume said of Hmeidan. “We told them they matured physically and it was time to grow mentally during the summer.
“Abed really developed intellectually in his understanding of the game and became a much better teammate who understands the roles of other players.”
Musayayi called Hmeidan the emotional heart of the team.
”We’ve spent a lot of time building chemistry and getting to know each other,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together just playing. He’s really intense about the game.
“He motivates me and everyone else on the team. His passing, shooting. He does it all.”
Soccer is not just an athletic outlet but holds a deep cultural bond for Hmeidan. He moved from Oak Lawn to his parents’ native Jordan as a 3-month-old baby and lived there until he was 11.
His brother Omar, who’s 11 years older, was his earliest influence. Omar helped get him involved with the sport at age 3.
“Soccer is like a national obsession in Amman where we lived,” he said of Jordan’s capital city. “I’d play with my brother, and he’d always take me down with him, no matter where.
“In Jordan, it’s more of a dribbling sport. I came back home and learned how to pass, and that helped with my shift to playing the central midfielder.”
Living those years in Jordan, Hmeidan uncovered his passion. And he learned how to adapt.
“It means so much to the country, especially building up national pride, making the World Cup this year,” he said. “I learned how to play in the streets every day because there really weren’t fields to speak of.”
Even as a kid, Hmeidan’s talent stood out. Jordan’s coaches sought his participation on a national youth team, but those dreams were interrupted when his family returned to the south suburbs.
He was worldly and a bit wild. His love of the game, however, simply shifted. He had to assimilate to the United States, but now that he’s come of age, the Eagles are living off the dividends.
His first year on the varsity last season as a sophomore turned into a test of wills.
“I want to play more with my teammates,” he said. “Because I realize that I also make mistakes.”
Sandburg feeds off his passion and intensity. The difference? Hmeidan has found his poise.
“I used to be a loud kid, but now I’m more quiet because I don’t see the point of being loud,” he said “Now my greatest thrill is just staying happy. No one’s having any problems with anybody.
“That’s all I can do just to stay happy.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.