Veterans Cup expected to bring 2,000 visitors

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

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WHAT: USSF U.S. National Veterans Cup WHEN: Tomorrow through Sunday. Tomorrow—Games at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. Thursday—9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Friday—9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Saturday (Semifinals)—9 a.m., 11 a.m. (includes Championships for Women over-30, over-55), 1 p.m. Sunday (Championships)—8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. WHO: Men: Over 40 (including premier, first and international divisions), 45, 50, 55. Women: Divisions over 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55. WHERE: Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex, Waipahu ADMISSION: Free

Frisoli, from Boston, is on O'ahu to compete in the seventh annual National Veterans Cup, the United States Adult Soccer Association's national championships for players over 30 years old.

It is the second straight year Hawai'i is playing host to the Veterans Cup, which organizers say is the only National Cup of any kind played in the Islands.

"It was wonderful — the tournament itself was a wonderful family oriented event," said Frisoli, a 54-year-old lawyer, who played in last year's tournament. "A lot of people bring their families and use it as a vacation in Hawai'i and to play soccer."

The Veterans Cup runs tomorrow through Sunday at the Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Complex. There are 58 teams from 17 states participating.

Frisoli is one of more than 2,000 people traveling to Hawai'i for the Veterans Cup, which is expected to bring in about $2.4 million, according to Manny Menendez, the executive director of the office of economic development and Waikiki development.

Menendez, who is also playing in the tournament on an over-40 team, said the complex is "world-class."

"Besides having the fields, finally we have a place where we can all go and play the game we love in world-class conditions, against teams from the Mainland where you can judge how good you really are," he said. "You can start equating your level of skill and competency."

This year the Veterans Cup expanded and now includes divisions from over 30 to over 55 for women, and men's over 40 to over 55. No team from Hawai'i has ever won a Veterans Cup championship. But that history isn't stopping over 20 teams from Hawai'i from trying again this year.

"It allows us the opportunity for us to show the Mainland people what Hawai'i soccer is like and our players what Mainland competition is like," said Hawai'i Soccer Association President Donna Fouts, who is playing in the over-50 and over-55 divisions. "We're doing our little part as taxpayers to showcase Hawai'i. It's certainly something that I'm very proud of, we're able to contribute back to the city and the state."

Frisoli, who is also the President of the Massachusetts Soccer Association, said a plus was that tournament organizers made it economically feasible for families to travel to Hawai'i.

"That's a very big factor," he said "The accommodations are good, they allow us lower rates and up to four people in a room."

He also said OHANA Hotels & Resorts offered discounted rates for families who wanted to travel to Neighbor Islands.

He took advantage of that, traveling to the Big Island from Friday through yesterday to visit Kilauea's lava flows and tour the island.

Frisoli, who brought his wife MaryJo and twin 18-year-old sons Michael and Morgan, said the non-players in the family are planning on touring O'ahu, surfing and visiting Waimea Bay, and his wife wants to go to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Last year, they went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, and visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. And of course, Dole Plantation.

He said after the success of last year's tournament, his team picked up six more players because returning players spoke so highly of Hawai'i.

"I don't know anybody who went last year from Massachusetts who didn't have a good time," Frisoli said. "I think that is one of the big reasons the tournament was so successful last year and will be a big success again this year."

Frisoli said he won't be able to tour much of O'ahu because he is playing in two divisions and will probably be at the field all day. He will be playing in the highly-competitive over-40 premier division as well as an over-50 division.

"The quality of soccer being played is very high; many of the participants on the men's side are formal professional players from Europe or South America," Frisoli said.

But for those who approach the game with a less intense view, it still provides an opportunity to be competitive.

"(I play because of) the buzz that it gives me as a human being to be able to run and kick," Fouts said. "(My son) Josh and I will dissect a game, and age just gets washed away; someone can be 30 years younger than you, but you are brought together by the love of the sport."

Fouts and Frisoli both spoke about bringing the Veterans Cup back to Hawai'i, saying that with the complex and competition, there is a good chance that would happen in the future.

"I would imagine the Veterans Cup will return to Hawai'i again, because of the allure — Hawai'i is a very attractive place," Frisoli said. "Where we are, there are blizzards and snow. All winter long you're thinking of sun."

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.