Just For Kicks
Hawaii lands
Veterans Cup tournamentA YEAR ago, the Hawaii Soccer Association delegates at the United States Soccer Federation's annual meeting convinced members to hold the 2003 Veteran's Cup here next August.
Previously, the Cup had been awarded to sites for consecutive years, but Hawaii was given just one year. This bothered the local representatives.
So, they returned to this year's annual meeting in San Francisco earlier this month determined to overcome whatever negatives had influenced the members to limit Hawaii to one year.
Dave Jorgenson, past HSA president, Sergio Bolioli, Men's Island Soccer Organization president, Scott Keopuhiwa, Hawaii Youth Soccer Association president, HSA director Frank Doyle and Michele Nagamine, Outrigger Hotels' director of sports sales, made up the Hawaii contingent.
"We convinced them to award us the Veteran's Cup in 2004," said Doyle.
"The biggest problem was people's concern that once a team came here the first time that they wouldn't return and the 2004 tournament would be mostly teams from Region 1 (Colorado to the West Coast).
"We know 50 percent of all visitors to Hawaii return. Not everyone who comes in 2003 will return in 2004, but we're going to put on a great tournament. The 2003 people will tell the United States soccer community what a great experience it was and more teams will come in 2004."
The Hawaii delegates handed out brochures at all meetings containing information about and color photos of the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park complex, information on hotels rates and air fares plus a supply of Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.
"This convention is good because it really shows the rest of the people in the U.S. that Hawaii is committed to soccer and the United States Soccer Federation," said Nagamine, who doubles as the Kamehameha girls' varsity coach.
"In the past we've had to send our players to the mainland to get exposure. Now we have a beautiful complex and can showcase our talent here.
"Our guys showed so much aloha. I thought our reps up there were exceptional. When you have quality people like that involved, it is hard work but it was a great time.
"I'm not on the HSA board any more so I was wearing my Outrigger hat. I sat in on the youth and adult meetings and we kind of nailed a lot of birds with one stone."
College bound
Jayson Nakakura, a goalkeeper from Pearl City High School, has accepted a scholarship and begins his college career at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo.Nakakura was on the West Oahu boys' Under-19 team that won the championship at the AYSO National Games in July.
He joins Big Island players Tyson Ferreira, Kristian Thiebaut and Dustin Cariaga on the Vikings roster.
Robert and Randy Shinn, Pearl City grads who played for the Missouri Valley JV team last year, have transferred to York College in York, Neb.
They join Campbell High School's Keoni Ariola, a junior striker who scored four goals with two assists in 2001. Ariola was named to the National Christian College Athletic Association All-Region second team.