Father's goal: 'I want to give them the chance to play'

When Eze Okoro closes his eyes, he can probably still picture playing soccer in the fields of his native Nigeria. Just him, friends and a ball.

"It didn't cost anything," he said.

His wish for his children was just as simple. A humble introduction to sports.

"I just wanted them to get some fitness," said the father of four girls.

He couldn't have imagined the whirlwind of activities and travel. The litany of expenses. A whole new world, a whole different playing field.

For the good of his children, he probably wouldn't care.

Three of Eze and his wife Agnes Okoro's daughters still play sports. Chinwe, a Junior Olympics gold medalist, throws the shot put at the University of Louisville. Chika, a senior at Hinsdale South High School, runs track and plays basketball with her sister Uzo, a freshman. At one point oldest daugher Queena also played sports.

"In the beginning it was fun," Eze said. "It's still fun to watch them play, but the cost has increased."

Shoes. Uniforms. Accessories, like knee pads. The costs add up - even when the family gets a $50 discount on sweatpants for having three kids on a team.

"I do think about (the cost) a lot," Chika said. "Most of my teammates don't have siblings on the team. My parents always funded it. They knew we needed it. It was never an issue."

Travel has been a constant in the Okoro's lives. As an employee at CSX Railroad, Eze was transferred from California to Kentucky nine years ago. Two years ago, another transfer uprooted the family to Darien.

Travel for sports wasn't quite as expected. These days it's the norm. Eze finds himself rescheduling opponents to get to his daughters' sports events.

"It can be very expensive some times," Eze said, "especially in sports events during the summer. A lot of traveling from state to state, city to city, paying hotels and food, the cost of gas."

The family did sacrifice vacation time for sports. For the close-knit Okoros the girls' trips are family time.

"Those sports trips," Eze said, "that's our vacation. We travel with them."

Vacation last summer took Eze and Agnes to Poland, where Chinwe competed in the Junior Olympics. The athletes' plane ticket and uniforms came paid with the trip.

Chika would like to pursue a track career after high school. Uzo, a strong 6-footer, is a promising basketball player.

As long as he has the money, Eze considers it well-spent on his children's activities.

"Our kids are doing well in sports," Eze said. "As a parent, I'm happy to endure the costs. I want to give them the chance to play."