Just For Kicks

By Al Chase

AYSO National Games
a first for Hawaii

THIS coming weekend, 3,500 youth soccer players arrive here for the 2002 American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Games, the first nationwide soccer tournament contested in the 50th state.

Include in the 192-team field the coaches, parents, siblings and referees, and the projected turnout is 7,000 or more people coming from the mainland to spend at least a week on Oahu. The economic impact to Hawaii is estimated at $8 million by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The teams register July 8 and 9, then join rush-hour traffic on the ninth for the ride to the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park for the opening ceremonies that begin at 6 p.m. with a parade of teams and officials into the stadium.

The Royal Hawaiian Band and performers from the Polynesian Cultural Center will provide entertainment throughout the two-hour celebration.

There are six speakers, and master of ceremonies John Fink is charged with making sure their remarks fit into the allotted time slot. Sometime around 7:30 that night, chairperson Max Sword will say, "Let the games begin."

The evening concludes with fireworks sponsored by long-time Hawaii AYSO supporter Meadow Gold Dairies.

There is a Soccerfest at Waipio on July 10, and a youth event at the Hawaii Convention Center that night. Pool play starts on the 11th, with the finals set for the 14th.

AYSO was established in the Los Angeles area in 1964 with nine teams. Today, AYSO has more than 50,000 teams and more than 650,000 players.

Due to the high demand to participate in the event here, a nationwide lottery was held a year in advance. Twenty-four teams were selected from each division, Under 12 through Under 19, for both boys and girls.

Sword and his wife Nella, the assistant chairperson, have an organizing committee to oversee the entire event.

Committee members include activities group manager Debbie Titcomb, coach administrator Ron Hata, David Onizuka and Conrad Shiroma.

April Akamine is the field management group manager, Tom Patterson handles finance, Lyllis Heu is the main tent group operations manager and the logistics group manager is Lester Shim.

The referee administrator is Wink Whitaker and his assistant is Bev Whitaker.

Betty Fernandez is the boys' registrar, while Tami Alcoran will register the girls. Brendan Cravalho is the sales group manager and Annette Cravalho is the statistician in charge of tallying all those goals scored.

New Sea Warriors

Hawaii Pacific women's coach Mark Kane signed eight local players for the 2002 season.

They are defenders Shelby Greer from Aiea, Maekamai Rezentes and Jackie Camit from Kahuku, and Karlee Kailiehu from University High; utility player Kerianne Pascua from Waialua; strikers Crystal Lopez from Waialua and Brittany Yap from Kamehameha; and midfielder Malia Kane from Maryknoll.

The Sea Warriors remain a club team and compete in the Open Division of the Women's Island Soccer Association.

The school still offers scholarships at 50 percent of a full ride.