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Just For Kicks
BEFORE the 1994 men's World Cup, hosted by the United States, the U.S. Soccer Foundation was established to manage the profits from the cup. The month-long tournament was the most financially successful ever run by FIFA. World Cup profits
trickle down to
help Hawaii soccerThe share of the profits received by the United State Soccer Federation was greater than anyone expected.
Since 1966, the Foundation has given more than $11 million to foster the growth of soccer in this country.
Hawaii recently was on the receiving end of a $60,000 bequest that provided a container load of equipment for the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Rick Freehan, immediate past president of the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association, wrote the request for the grant and steered it through several months of negotiations with various levels of bureaucracy.
In the end, it was a case of Freehan submitting invoices to Kwik Goal Limited until the grant was used up.
Purchased were 18 goal sets, the same as those used by Major League Soccer teams. That included 36 goal posts, 36 nets, 18 sets of field flags, tie-down pegs for the goals and net stakes. It also included the shipping charges from Quakers- town, Pa.
"Soccer is growing so rapidly in Hawaii and these funds go a long way toward meeting the needs of our athletes," Freehan said. "This wasn't something just for HYSA, but something I wanted to get for the whole Hawaii soccer community."
What most of the parents and players attending the grand opening at the Waipio facility don't know is all this equipment arrived just a couple of days before the opening. It was unpacked and assembled the day before by volunteers.
It has been a painful season for Micah Sadoyama, a junior right midfielder for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags.
Sadoyama (Iolani) suffered a hip flexor, but with 18 players on coach Louis Bilowitz's 24-man roster dealing with injuries, Sadoyama has kept going.
"He is playing despite the obvious pain and limitations. His heart is a symbol for the other players of what it means to put the team above personal concerns," Bilowitz said.
"We would most likely be undefeated if we were healthy, but our record (14-2-1) is still good and much of it is because of the inspiration the team receives from players such as Micah Sadoyama."
Sadoyama has scored four goals this year for the Stags, defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions.
Vanessa Farmer (Seabury Hall), who would have been a sophomore goalkeeper for the Whittier College Poets this season, has changed sports.
"Vanessa is playing her first love, volleyball, and doing very well," said Whittier women's soccer coach Kwame Lloyd.
Another Hawaii player has suffered a season-ending knee injury that will require surgery.
Sarah Rothbaum (Punahou) a freshman striker for the Pepperdine Waves, tore the ACL in her right knee Oct. 13 playing against the University of San Francisco. She had played in all 14 matches and had made one start before the injury. She had scored one goal and recorded one assist.
It was a long season for Mariah Farley (Iolani) a freshman goalkeeper for Portland State.
The Vikings finished 0-18-0.
Farley started nine of the 15 matches in which she played, allowing 51 goals (3.98 goals allowed average), but made 147 saves.
The Vikings were outscored, 72-9, and outshot, 204-36.
