There were fleeting but significant moments when Richard Farrer thought about not returning to the United States for his fourth Major League Soccer season.

He was spending a few offseason months in South Africa playing soccer. It wasn't that Farrer wasn't wanted in MLS. He's made a career here and is a valuable Dallas Burn player for his remarkable versatility. And it wasn't that Farrer doesn't like the team or its players. He is best friends with two of his teammates, well-liked and respected by the other players.

So what would keep Farrer in another continent?

Richard Farrer

He was having such a good time getting re-acquainted with a land he once called home. Farrer spent about three months playing for Santos, a team from Cape Town, South Africa. He wanted to make this kind of trip after the 1996 and 1997 seasons but ran into timing and logistical difficulties.

"I really wanted to do it this year, so I jumped at it when I saw that I had a chance," the 28-year old Farrer said. "I like it in Dallas and knew I would come back. But while I was there, a part of me realized I was home."

This was Farrer's second trip to South Africa for professional soccer, but certainly not his second trip overall. Farrer was born there and spent the first six years of his life in South Africa.

But the political situation forced his parents to think about moving elsewhere. When they had a chance to come to the United States in the late 1970s on sabbatical, they decided to stay. The family first lived in Fort Collins, CO, then moved south to New Mexico. That's where Farrer spent his high school and college years. He stayed in Albuquerque, NM, after college, playing for the New Mexico Chiles of the USL.

Farrer was working as an accountant, about to enter law school in 1995 when the opportunity to play for upstart Major Soccer League presented itself. He wasn't sure about making such a drastic career move, but decided to give U.S. pro soccer a shot after being selected in the 12th round of the MLS draft.

Farrer came to the Burn as a forward but knew coach Dave Dir needed midfielders and defenders that first year. Farrer quickly became a defensive fixture, starting the club's first 31 games. (He would have started all 32, but Dir used the final, meaningless, regular season game to give some minutes to backups.)

Farrer was so valuable and durable that he played every minute of every game in April, May and June in 1996. Farrer was also becoming something of a shootout specialist. He scored on three of four attempts in the MLS method of breaking ties.

The next season didn't work out so well. A frustrating groin injury prevented Farrer from playing the first 25 games of the season and resulted in surgery. But Farrer was back to his usual versatile self in 1998, playing in 28 of 32 games.

He finished the season as a flank midfielder, using his speed and stamina to move up and down the wings in Dir's five-midfielder formation. Farrer can play on either side. He also spent stints at forward and defender.

"He is our most versatile player," Dir said. And probably the most interesting. Farrer can be found at any given time studying books on history, religion or philosophy. Or he might be comparing various musical tastes with roommates and friends Temoc Suarez and Brandon Pollard. Or Farrer may be reading science fiction or Steinbech or one of the more contemporary pop authors.

Farrer has also spent some time studying languages. He's competent at Spanish and can hold his own at Zulu and Afrikana, two of the languages of South Africa.

Farrer got a chance to learn more about those languages in his first go-round with South African soccer, during a season with AmaZulu in Johannesburg. This time, he played for Santos, which means, "the people's team."

"I met so many wonderful people," he said. "I got along great with the coach, and I learned a lot about myself."

The club was setting up an apartment for Farrer. But it wasn't ready when he arrived, forcing him to set up temporarily in a lodge frequented by medical students and visiting professors. He enjoyed it so much that he stayed even after his apartment was ready. Why stay by himself, he reasoned, when he could be around so many interesting people.

Farrer was a regular with the Santos team, displaying the same versatility that has made him a Burn fixture. He played marking back, forward and sweeper at different times. He said the South African First Division is not as tactically advanced as European leagues, but is full of raw talent. Playing against that kind of talent can only make him a better forward, midfielder, defender, or whatever role Dir asks him to take on this year.

"There's lots of open play," he said, "and lots of great, great players in South Africa."

Not to mention a strong hint of home.

Article written by Steve Davis for Freekick