By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
May 28, 2020-With no organized soccer games or training currently taking place in New York State because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is making lemonade out of lemons. Whether it’s our Olympic Development Program (ODP) having virtual tactical sessions on Zoom, or our clubs holding virtual shootouts in their homes and drive-by’s of players’ houses to lift everybody's spirits.
On Friday, May 15, Eastern New York held an XBox Tournament. 44 players took part and 63 games were played in this elimination tournament.
Kevin Maldonado of the HBC B05 Fire from the
Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) was crowned the champion after winning all five of his matches. His youth soccer coach described him.
“Kevin is a very hard worker and someone that our team depends upon. He is very good working with another of his teammates and we call them the ‘twins' because they are interchangeable, switching between center back and center midfield based on the flow of the game,” explained HBC Fire coach Jim Neuberger. “He is a great teammate and is a quiet leader on the team who sets the tone, especially when we are faced with a tough situation.”
Coach Neuberger continued, “Kevin can score, defend and be counted on to take a penalty kick when needed. It does not surprise me that he won this XBox competition as he is able to contain his emotions and just play. I wish that he would have told me that he won but that's part of his low key personality!”
With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.