Soccer team uses GAMES to honor and remember late friend, teammate and captain

This weekend, the team “Kjell FC” which consists of former Columbia College soccer players will reunite in Columbia to compete in the Men’s Open soccer tournament in the Show-Me STATE GAMES.

Each year, this tournament holds special meaning for the members of “Kjell FC,” not because they have won the tournament three out of the last five years, but because it is a time to remember their late former teammate and friend Kjell -Einar Teien.

Teien and most of the members of “Kjell FC” played soccer at Columbia College from 1999-2002. Teien was an exceptional player and leader, as he was captain of the team for a few years.

“He got you to perform how you needed to and at your best,” said Ben Boehner, member of “Kjell FC” and former teammate of Teien.

After leaving Columbia College, Teien moved back to Norway and, in 2004, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He battled the disease for a few years until he passed away in 2007.

Teien is remembered as a strong competitor, a great leader and a true friend. His legacy continues at Columbia College in that his number was retired and he was inducted into the Columbia College Hall of Fame in 2009.

As a further tribute to Teien, many of his former teammates and friends travel to Columbia each year from places as far as Canada, Los Angeles, Columbus, and Chicago in order to play soccer in the Show-Me STATE GAMES and honor Teien’s memory.

“We all know the reasons we are coming and that’s to reunite with old friends, to remember a fallen friend, and to compete in the way that would make Kjell proud,” said Boehner.

UPDATE: “Kjell FC” took gold in their division.

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