Tucked away somewhere far beyond the biohacking videos and overpriced yoga classes of wellness options, there is turf — the Rochester Sports Garden turf, to be exact. A set of walled-in, multi-use fields located along Jefferson Road in Henrietta, used for anything from youth lacrosse to flag football. The main attraction that pulls players and spectators alike towards the pitch, however, is adult league soccer. With one or more league games running every day of the week, the sports complex transforms into a land where anyone from the 9-5ers to retired pros gather together to take their shot at indoor glory. A secret garden for artists of the astro to express themselves as they see fit, free from pressures of the outside world.
Amidst the pre-game shuffling for a Sunday run of matches, Nour Marigh leaned over the bench wall, arms crossed and smiling. He has a casual, welcoming demeanor, exchanging pleasantries and cracking jokes with the referee while lacing up. Marigh has been a regular at the garden for years — 10 or 13 games per week kind of regular, four games on Sundays alone.
The freshly turned 40-year-old closed down shop at the turf a few weeks back, blasting music while chasing goal shots into the wee hours of the morning. It’s safe to say Marigh is the unofficial mayor of the small but budding soccer community at the Sports Garden. Weekly match count aside, Marigh possesses a lightheartedness, fair sense of competition and connection to his childhood passion that is infectious, to say the least.
“When I was a kid I was obsessed (with soccer),” he recalled. “I played everywhere, all the time. It is all me and my friends would do.”
Born and raised in Morocco, Marigh was hooked on the joy of the world’s game from a young age.
“Like any kid in North Africa, I wanted to play like Barça or Madrid,” he said. “Now, it’s to push myself, to keep showing up and play for my body and my mind — I never play if I don’t have the time.”
When Marigh immigrated to Rochester in 2009, it wasn’t just the prospect of indoor sports that encouraged him to make the move. His brother was established here and after some discussion, Nour saw an opportunity to begin the education journey he was looking for. He enrolled in a computer science degree program and has enjoyed a successful career since.
As for his off-hours soccer career, “it wasn’t always like this though,” he noted. From age 25 to 32, Marigh didn’t play at all. A worsening knee condition kept him sidelined, and soccer wasn’t a feasible option for fitness. But with effective physical therapy and the turf calling his name, the Sports Garden soon met its favorite baller. Playing soccer isn’t just about the physical elements for Marigh — it is also a sense of home.
“This game happens all over the world. I knew I could come here and feel comfortable and get to know people while being active and enjoying myself.” he said. “I just wanted to get more and more games. I wanted to keep improving myself physically and mentally, so I did.”
As a concept, wellness is difficult to define. Does one get there by discipline? Therapy? Can one ‘arrive’ at all? The experience of wellness means different things to everyone — mental health, spiritual belief, personal fitness, a post-game beer — but it always starts with being there.
On the field, Marigh is fully present in mind, body and spirit. He possesses a balance of personal drive and presence of mind. Everything pushes towards touch, pass and move.
“Oh man, I say this to everyone who comes to play,” he said. “Leave everything else outside. When you come here, have fun together and play the best you can. That’s all that matters. If you have a bad game, so what?”
Rob Houppert is a contributor to CITY.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
