Kabiru Gafar’s life changed dramatically at a young age.
Just 11 years old, he moved across the globe from Nigeria to the United States, seeking a better life in a culture that was unfamiliar and sometimes scary. He left behind his two older brothers, Lawal and Qudus, and started a new life in Indianapolis with his parents, Kikelomo and Suliaman, and his younger brother, Wasiu.
Reflecting on the move to the U.S., Kabiru Gafar said: “There wasn’t a lot of good at first. Leaving your home country, leaving everything that you know and learned, it was a whole new process.”
But Gafar overcame the difficult adjustment and, over time, Indiana became the place he called home. Now Gafar, who turned 22 on Aug. 10, is in the first season of his professional soccer career with Fort Wayne Football Club, the only professional team in the state with its own soccer-specific venue – Ruoff Mortgage Stadium.
“Indiana became a part of me,” he said, “and shaped who I have become.”
Fort Wayne FC, which plays the Portland Hearts of Pine on the road Saturday (the match airs on ESPN+), will be back at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium on Sept. 2. The Autumn Gold & Black have four home matches in September.
Hardworking, honest player
When Gafar received a contract offer from Fort Wayne FC in April, it was the realization of a dream – getting to play professional soccer – amplified by being able to do it so close to his adopted home of Indianapolis.
“When I first put the pen to the paper here, I was thinking about how this state means a lot to me,” said Gafar, a midfielder.
“Most of the people that I’ve met since I moved over here from Nigeria – people who shaped who I am – live two hours away from Fort Wayne. For them to be able to come to my games and enjoy seeing me do what I love as people who poured into me early on, it’s a big deal.”
Gafar made his pro debut against the Charlotte Independence on May 2, Fort Wayne FC’s first match at 6411 Bass Road, and he has been an integral part of the team’s success – playing in 19 matches so far this season, including three matches in the Prinx Tires USL Cup competition.
Gafar leads Fort Wayne FC in assists with five – two in Cup play – and he’s also scored two goals, which is tied for fourth most on the roster.
“Kabiru is a very hardworking and honest player,” Fort Wayne FC head coach Mike Avery said. “He always puts in maximum effort every time he plays.
“He has a lot of really good qualities and, as he starts to mature in his game, I believe he has a really high ceiling.”
Avery commended Gafar for his locker-room presence as much as his soccer skill.
“He is a great teammate,” Avery said. “He has an ability to connect with people; there is always a smile on his face. And he brings a great attitude whenever he is around and is a pleasure for everyone to be around.
“It’s always rewarding when you see players that onboard information and try to apply it to the game and grow as a result of it. KB is definitely someone who does that.”
Shaped by the past
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, soccer was an integral part of Gafar’s childhood. Introduced to the game around age 6, he enjoyed every second spent learning the beautiful game.
“A lot of people were involved in my early development,” said Gafar, who gave his oldest brother, Lawal, the most credit for helping him hone his skills on the pitch.
“He took me everywhere to play. He taught me the basics and from there I started playing and fell in love with the game.”
Gafar spent seemingly every waking moment thinking about the pitch. His life began revolving around the game.
“Back home, soccer is what we live and breathe,” he said. “It’s an everyday thing. You wake up in the morning, spend a little time with your family, and then you go out to play soccer. You’re not back in until 9-10 p.m. Your parents wonder where you are, and all along you were just kicking a ball with the boys.”
The time he spent playing with his friends and the lessons learned with a ball at his feet are some of the most valuable moments of Gafar’s childhood.
“That played a big part in how I carry myself,” Gafar said. “Not everyone back home gets the opportunity to make it out and if you do, you have to carry what you learn. That is what I try to do wherever I go.”
An evolving career
Gafar’s soccer career in the U.S. got off to a smidge of a rocky start after his arrival in the country.
“I showed up to a seventh-grade tryout and got sent home,” Gafar said. “I didn’t have a physical.”
He wasn’t discouraged by the setback.
“I promised myself that next year, I was going to go again, and I made the eighth-grade team for Chapel Hill Middle School,” he said.
Gafar spent his freshman and sophomore years of high school playing at Indianapolis’ Ben Davis High School. He was then recruited by the Indiana Fire academy – now Indy Eleven – helping them make it to back-to-back USL Academy Cup Championships. He won the Golden Boot award in the 2021 tournament with three goals and an assist.
Gafar spent his four-year college career at the University of Indianapolis, an NCAA Division II program.
“On the field, KB was a dynamic and talented player who could change a game and always had an eye for goal,” University of Indianapolis men’s soccer head coach Gabe Hall said. “But what truly set him apart was his willingness to work, sacrifice, and put the team’s success ahead of his own.”
Appearing in 66 college matches and starting 46 of them, Gafar totaled 11 goals and 13 assists.
“As good as KB was on the field, he was an even better person and teammate off of it,” Hall said. “He always carried a smile, brought positive energy to those around him, and earned the respect and love of his teammates. He was the kind of player who would do anything to help and support the people around him. KB’s talent made him a special player, but his character made him an unforgettable teammate.”
During his time at UIndy, Gafar was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-GLVC in 2022. He also earned Academic All-GLVC in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
“All of the coaches that I’ve met from seventh grade all the way to my last year of college have really shaped who I am,” Gafar said.
“They poured into me and taught me a lot about myself – most importantly as a person – but also helped me as a player.”
Gafar met a lot of people throughout his soccer journey, which is one of the things he loves most about the sport. And while he hasn’t been back to Nigeria since coming to the U.S., he does stay in touch with family there and they keep tabs on his successes with Fort Wayne FC.
“(It’s been great) getting to meet different people from all around, build connections, and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds,” he said. “There is a lot you can learn from them.”
About Fort Wayne Football Club
Fort Wayne Football Club, founded in 2019, is a professional soccer club playing its first season in USL League One in 2026. The club plays home matches at Ruoff Mortgage Stadium, which opened May 2, 2026, and is a soccer-specific venue. In pre-professional USL League Two, Fort Wayne Football Club won division titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. For more information, visit FortWayneFC.com.
About United Soccer League
Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.