Please share with us about your background as an athlete/player.
My name is Peter Limata. I have played soccer for over 35 years now. I was born and raised in soccer-crazy Zambia. Home of the 1988 African Footballer of the year and home of the 2012 African Cup of Nations Champions.
I played in Zambia in primary school as competing there begins in the early grades. I played high school and college and in the lower pro leagues in Zambia and college here in the US. I have been a student athlete all my life in cross country and track and field in addition to soccer.
I have played in BAASL and other adult leagues since 2013. I am also a grassroots soccer referee and coach.
What do you like about the league?
I like that BAASL has high standards/expectations of participating teams and individuals. I like that BAASL has multiple levels of soccer experience which allows for many to participate in the beautiful game at a level comfortable to them. I love that BAASL is responsive to player voices and community voices. I love that BAASL is a place for all to come and enjoy soccer.
What do you enjoy doing outside of soccer?
Outside of playing soccer, I enjoy reading, organizing, enjoying the arts especially theater, playing scrabble, road biking and traveling. And I love watching all soccer but most especially watching my beloved Manchester United and the Oakland Roots and Soul.
Are there any soccer figures/people you admire and what about them do you like?
I admire Marcus Rashford for his talent but perhaps most importantly for his advocacy work for low-income students and their families. Marcus' work advocating for free lunches in schools especially during the pandemic is more than a humanity story but it is also a social justice story for those in our communities with less heard voices.
What is your fondest memory of soccer?
Zambia Men National Team winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations. Celebrating with my family and friends in the streets of Lusaka.
Zambia Women National Team Playing at Zambia's first ever senior World Cup in New Zealand in July/August 2023. It was an honor to be in the stadium for all the games and to hear the National Anthem booming through the arenas.
Manchester United winning the 1999 Champions League final with two added time goals to turn around a 0-1 deficit.
Was there any experience in particular that influenced your love of soccer?
My uncle, my mom's brother, took me, as a kid, to watch soccer at stadiums and on TV and that was the beginning of a lifelong love. He also bought me my first soccer team replica jersey (Man United's Peter Schmeichel goalie replica).
Do you have any rituals you do before playing a game?
I don't eat anything two hours or less to game time. I play hype music/victory anthems to psych myself up. The bigger the game, the more music.
What do you think the future of soccer in the U.S. will look like?
I have certainly seen growth in the game in the time I have been living in the US. I think what will be truly impactful in the growth of soccer would be if:
--We got rid of the pay to play model that is predominantly the model for youth soccer.
--there was more investment in youth programs that support participation in soccer especially among socially economically disadvantaged communities.
Anything else you'd like to share about yourself with the BAASL community?
I am passionate about teaching that empowers students and encourages equity of access and participation.
I am a social justice, reading, and literacy champion. I believe in the positive representation of BIPOC in literature. I believe in having big and hard conversations and critically analyzing issues. I believe bias and discrimination exist and it is up to each one of us to call them out and assess our own privilege and how that privilege impacts our communities especially the marginalized groups.
I am a soccer referee, including here at BAASL. See you on the field!!
The young and the young at heart can find me at storytimewithmrlimata.com for story times and wholesome conversations.
Find Story Time with Mr. Limata online: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube