When first-year head coach Mike Armbruster took the reins of the University of Northwestern Ohio women’s basketball team he understood the challenge would be difficult and his vision for rebuilding the program would take time.
One of his first priorities was finding and recruiting the kind of talent that would allow the Lady Racers to consistently compete in the rugged Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference.
To that end, Armbruster first began scouring for quality post players, an essential ingredient for any successful collegiate program.
Sogona Sidibi, a 6-foot transfer from Central State, was an early target for coach Armbruster. The UNOH women have turned some heads in the conference by vaulting out to a fast start, winning seven games and hovering near the top of the WHAC standings and Sidibi has been one of the keys to their success.
The road travelled by Sidibi to reach UNOH has been long, sometimes arduous and certainly captivating.
Sidibi was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, a sprawling port city on the west coast of Africa. One of 15 children, Sogona first began playing basketball in junior high at the urging of her older sister, Marian, who was a member of the Ivory Coast National team.
Marian hauled a reluctant Sogona to one of her basketball practices, where she caught the eye of the coach of the National team who urged her to join the National youth squad.
In the beginning, Sidibi resisted all attempts to learn the game of basketball.
“I did not like it at first,” Sogona said. “It was not familiar to me.”
Her mom and sister provided the motivation and Sogona became a quick learner. She spent her junior high and early high school years playing on the youth national squads traveling to tournaments around Africa.
While playing in the African Cup in Egypt, Sidibi caught the eye of an American coach who was scouting for talent. The coach offered Sidibi the opportunity to come to the United States to attend and play basketball at New Hope Christian High School, a national basketball powerhouse located in Thomasville, North Carolina.
Sogona wanted nothing to do with it.
“I did not want to leave my family and friends to come to the United States,” Sogona said.
Her father had recently passed, adding to the burden on her family.
But her mother insisted she take advantage of the opportunity.
“My mother convinced me that I would be able to help my family by coming to America and getting an education and I could not disappoint her,” Sidibi said.
When Sogona arrived in the United States, she was fluent in French and Dioula, her native language, but did not know a word of English.
“The first six months were hell,” Sidibi said. “I cried every day.”
Sidibi, a very bright young woman, used Google to translate everything and eventually learned the language on her own.
“It got better for me, but I do remember thinking if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere” she said.
In her two years at New Hope Christian, the school was ranked No. 1 in the state of North Carolina and rose to No. 5 in the nation. It was stocked with foreign players, including athletes from Russia, Croatia, New Zealand and Senegal.
“The basketball was great, but the education was not at the same level,” Sidibi said, who is proud of her excellent academic record.
After graduation, Sidibi was recruited by Central State University, but chose to transfer to UNOH this year. Her experience at UNOH has been positive.
“Coach Armbruster is a lovely coach,” Sidibi said. “Our team has good chemistry and the potential to be great.”
The serious and strong willed Sidibi remains focused on her goal of obtaining a Master’s degree in Business, and then returning to her homeland and helping her mother and family.
“Everything that I do, I do for my mother,’” she said.
In the four years she has lived in the United States, Sogona has not been able to make the trip back home. She stays with her brother, Mohamed, a student living in the Bronx, New York, during the summers.
Their neighborhood in the Bronx is an African community that reminds Sidibi of her homeland.
“I am comfortable there, it reminds me of Abidjan,” she said. “And I can even get attieke,” her favorite African food.
Sidibi credits her Muslim faith with helping her through her most difficult challenges. She tries to perform Salaah prayer five times each day, working around her athletic and academic schedules. She is a serious student, and lamented a C grade on a recent accounting exam.
The holiday season is always a difficult one for Sidibi because, despite being Muslim, her family always celebrated Christmas with gift giving.
It was a joyous time in her home. She misses her brothers, sisters, large extended family and especially her mother who has been sick in recent months.
“I know I have been blessed,” Sogona said. “And I pray for the day I can complete my journey and return home to help my family.”
In the meantime, Sidibi and her UNOH basketball teammates begin their Christmas break and a few valuable days of vacation time before resuming their battle for respect in the powerful WHAC.
Sogona plans to travel by bus to North Carolina for a short visit with the family of a high school friend before returning to campus.
Her long journey continues.
Merry Christmas everyone. Count your blessings.
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