Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

Sunday, October 7, 2001

Hawaii wins bid to host
2003 Veterans Cup

WHAT a way to start the week!

Hawaii Soccer Association chairman Donna Fouts arrived home from work Monday night, turned on the answering machine and heard the message she had been waiting for.

Tim Busch, the Veterans Cup National Chairman, had called to say the Hawaii Soccer Association had won the bid to host the 2003 tournament.

"We at the HSA are extremely excited about this," said Fouts. "It gives us an opportunity to showcase how well soccer is played in the islands and how well we can run a tournament."

The Veterans Cup, an annual event started in 1998 by the United State Soccer Federation, has operated with four, 16-team divisions for men and women over 40 and over 50.

Busch said a men's over 40 international division will be added for the 2002 tournament.

"I think that would have real possibilities in the Pacific Rim," Busch said.

Hawaii bid for two years, but was awarded just one year.

"We thought it might be a strain to go to Hawaii two consecutive years, but I anticipate Hawaii being a regular stop," Busch said. "Who doesn't want to go to Hawaii. I know I do."

The HSA benefited from the recent successful bids submitted for national tournaments by the American Youth Soccer Association and the Hawaii Youth Soccer Association.

"Basically, the bid was done by telephone. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau put together a wonderful package. Michelle Nagamine at Outrigger Hotels and Resorts came up with a great room rate," said Fouts. "Frank Doyle went to the annual USSF meeting and he was told there was no need to discuss our bid because it was so comprehensive."

The 2003 event will be held in June. Colorado and North Carolina also submitted bids.

Coming back

Tiffany Sabado says she will be ready for the start of Pac-10 play in another week after missing the first half of the Arizona Wildcats season following surgery to remove two cysts from her pelvic region.

The senior striker from Castle High School was expected to be a key component in the Wildcats offense this season.

"I found out two days after I got back. It was a health issue I knew I had to take care of," Sabado said. "It was a disappointment because I had trained hard all summer in Hawaii and that was lost. I've finished with rehab and have been cleared to play. I think I'm ready, but probably need another week."

The Oahu Interscholastic Association East Player of the Year as a senior, Sabado has scored seven goals and recorded three assists in 45 matches for Arizona.

She is majoring in speech and hearing, maintains a 3.5 grade point average and will graduate in May. After that, she plans to travel.

Way to go

Kyle Fukuchi (Mililani) came off the bench and scored the game-winning goal, his first of the year, as Washington edged Air Force, 2-1, last Sunday.

Sophomore midfielder Kurt Kagawa (Mililani) scored an unassisted goal at 33:35 to lead Whitworth to a 1-0 victory over Linfield, Sept. 22.