Player Profile

Bora Esenler, a well establish athlete in other sports as well, learned soccer on the streets of Turkey. Due to a lack of well organized youth level soccer programs and the portrayal of less then admirable private lives of soccer stars of the time, Esenler’s family always tried to steer him away from soccer and more towards his education and other sports. After tennis, equestrian competitions, swimming and basketball camps, he found his true calling when he was introduced to Team Handball in mid-school. With his high school team, he won two Turkish Championships titles and attended World High school Handball Championship in Sweden. During his senior year in highschool, he was voted MVP among all athletes and was also selected to Turkish National Team Handball Squad. After signing a professional contract with (then the first place) Arcelik, he pondered about his on going education. As a result, and after a short stint with Besiktas Junior Soccer Team, he traveled to USA to attend college. In summary, he continued his soccer career as follows: 1989: SIU-Carbondale won the SIU Cup. 1990: He transferred with full soccer scholarship to BAC-Belleville, National Tournament, St. Louis. 1991: He transferred to Sangamon State University – NAIA, National Tournament, Boca Raton, FL 1992: Sangamon State Univ. – NAIA, National Tournament, 4th Place, San Antonio, TX 1993: Sangamon State University – NAIA, National Tournament, CHAMPIONS, San Antonio, TX 1994-1995: MSL - Milwaukee Rampage, WI. 1995: Univ. of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Club team - National Tournament Finals, Phoenix, AZ. 1996: U of I, Champaign-Urbana, Club team - National Tournament Finals, Phoenix, AZ 1997: Springfield (Central Illinois Team), Prairie State Games - CHAMPIONS at SIU-Edwardsville 1998-1999: Pegasus Soccer Club, Chicago 1999-2001: Indoor and outdoor championships with various teams in Chicago 2001-2002: Assryian Stars, NSL, Chicago 2003: TURKISH F.C., NSL, Chicago.