Hard work, no frills, key to 86er success From page 38 oh a three-year contract with 21- ich. When he said he would like to coach the Canadian national soc- cer team, Lenarduzzi said he would “love to do that, but not at the expense of what I have going with this club.”” While the Vancouver 86ers are not as high-profile a soccer team as the Vancouver Whitecaps were, Lenarduzzi says there is one sim- ple formula that has allowed the team he ceaches and manages to consistently win the CSL’s cham- pionship over the last several years. 44 Id like to retire as a professional “soccer person. 99 “I think it’s honest, hard work and no frills. Everyone in this organization understands that we're not the. Whitecaps,’ says Lenarduzzi, who was recently presented with a distinguished cit- izen award from North Vancouver District. “The players are all part-time, they either go ta school or have =5) LAN Video & Film © production Services _ Production Management: & industria) video Sete 108-130 Lonsdale Ave Nth Te: Bc ANN & ROBERT a Professional Team. We know how to get your home SUTTON GROUP SOLD) west coast azaity Gall 986-9321 or 988-2186 regular jobs. There aren't any egos on this team because the players don’t make enough money to have an ego atmosphere.”’ Lenarduzzi says he doesn’t know what he would be doing now if he hadn’t become involved in soccer. He started playing the game ‘‘ever since I can remember’? and has been con- nected with it ever since. He adds that he believes there is someone looking out for him. “I remember that when people used to ask me as a kid what ! wanted to be when I grew up I would say a professional soccer player and people would laugh because there wasn't a profes- sional league anywhere close to Vancouver. But I was going to get there one way or another and for- tunately for me the timing was right. “I feel as if someone is looking after me. I went to England at the age of 15 and stayed there for five years with an English league team. I decided it wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go so I came back to Vancouver and fortunately for me the Whitecaps started up so I was able to stay involved with soccer.”’ Lenarduzzi says that after the Whitecaps folded he thought his soccer career was over and he would have to be forced to pound the pavement in search of ‘‘a real job.’” But the “‘person’’ who has been looking out for him had other plans in store for Lenarduz- ae I said, scmeone’s been looking after me decause the in- door soccer league then formed and I went to Tacoma, Washington, for two years and played there. Then I was released by Tacoma, came back to Van- couver and then the 86ers started up. “I feel that I’ve been quite for- tunate to be able to make a living in the game, and there are only a handful of people in Canada who can make that claim.”’ NEWS photo Cindy Goodman BOB LENARDUZZI: Someone's been watching out for him. Bob Lenarduzzi What have been the highlights of your career to date?: “There are three highlights. The Soccer Bow! in 1979 when the Whitecaps won the championship. It wasn’t so much the game itself, it was the actual festivities that were taking place back here that 1 wasn’t quite aware of. We were coming back on the flight from New York and we were handed parade routes. “The feeling of the players was that we're going to a parade and it would be kind of sad if there were not any people on the strects. We got back and it was absolute bedlam. That for me was especialiy gratifying because I’m from Vancouver, and I hadn’t seen the city react like that since I was a youngster and the (B.C.) Lions won the Grey Cup. “The second highlight is the ac- tual World Cup, playing at the World Cup in 1986 with Canada and, in particular, the first game against France. “The third highlight was my last game with the 86ers as a player/coach and being able to retire on as good a note as you possibly can and that was winning the championship and hanging it up at that point.” Are there any characters you remember from the championship Whitecaps team?: ‘‘Willie Johnson was a great character on the field. He would always do something that was out of the or- dinary, although he wasn’t a character off the field. He just seemed to change his personality altogether when he was on the field. ‘t remember one instance in which we played in San Jose and the stands were very close to the field and you could actually reach over and touch the players. He was taking a corner kick and there was a television time out. “So he was standing there and there was a fellow leaning over the railing and he had 4 beer in his hand. Willie saw this guy leaning over and said: ‘Would you mind if I had 2 drink?’ The guy passed him the beer, he had a swig of it and then he took the corner ‘ick in his own words and we scored from it. “Then another time, we were playing against Seattle at Empire Stadium and there were about 25,0C0 people in the stands. It was a shoot-out and Willie was up to shoot and he scored. ‘“*As he ran by their (Seattle’s) bench back te ours, he dropped his shorts and mooned the bench. He got fined for that, but of course ail our crowd was having a big chuckle. He would do things that made you laugh.”’ What do you like to do to relax when you're not working?: “Spend time with my family. In the summer there’s not a lot of time to spend with them because it’s the surnmer season and there’s a lot of travel involved. _ “But.if I have the time I like to — spend it with my family and see the kids grow up. [’m told that the years go by very quickly and ‘they'll (kids) sort of be eye-balling me from the same height that’ I am now so I want to make sure that doesn’t pass me by.’”’ You can own in Coquitiam.... Best Price. Best Location. Sales Cffice: 944-2343 Open Daily 12:00- 5:00 Features: Full Ensuites with Relaxing Scdker Tubs ‘Track Lighting ¢ Gas Fireplaces Secured Parking © Large Storage Lockers OF ARK ET EG 937-001 FINANGIAL POWER PACK Purchase price You pay G.S.T. Legal Fees Purehae Tax 6 Appliances All Blinds 10% Down YORKTON REAL ESTATE MARKETING O oO O O Q cs]