-« 4 ~ Herth Shore News — Wednesday, June 21, 2000

sam Lenarduzzi

SAM Lenardiuzzl was: ¢ ‘one “of 22 individuals recently
‘inducted into the new Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame

cin Vaughan, Ont*

city ous.”

SPORTS

Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer ;
A North Shore soccer legend has

been inducted into the new
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in

Vaughan, Ont.

Sam Lenarduzzi, a 14-ime national .

~ team member and North American Soccer
. ‘League (NASL) defender in the 1970s and

"80s, was one of 22 national soccer figures
given the nod.-

The hall of fame recognizes the achieve-
ments of some of the country’s most pres-
tigious soccer figures.

Lenarduzzi, one of four soccer playing
brothers — two of which also live on the
North Shore — said he was skeptical when
he first received word of the honour.

“This is the first year for the hall of fame
so when E first gor the letter I had to think

‘Whar is this and is this for real?’.” he said.
‘ brothers are involved in the day-to-day

“J think it’s great that they started the’
hall because there are lots of great players .

ws

SeaBus or view on-line.

in soccer hai

out there and they should be recognized.
it’s a great | honour.”

Bom in Udine, Italy in 1949,
Lenarduzzi made his mark playing defence
for the NASL's Vancouver Whitecaps irom
1974-78 before emigrating to the Toronto
Blizzard franchise for 1979-82,

Twice Lenarduzzi missed turing

NASL championships — after he left the

Whitecaps, cy went all the way in 1979
and the Blizzard grabbed the ttle in 1983.

“IT guess it must have been fate,” he |

laughed.

Lenarduzzi was also a member of the
national Pan American Games contingents
in Winnipeg in 1967 and Colombia in
1971.

He was honoured with a selection to
the all-star team as sweeper during a pre-
World Cup competition in Mexico in
1977. .
Younger brother Bob is 4 "former
national team caach, as well, .and ail’ four: ~

operations of the Lenarduzzi soccer camps,

‘CUSTOMER INFORMATION: 521-0400

° #240. 15th Street / Vancouver

Seasonal i improvements:

SeaBus,. “Lonsdale Quay / Waterfront Station

#28
#236"

Capilano College / | Park Royal
Stadium Station / Royal Hudson

SEASUS “SRYTRAIN

WEST COAST CYCLING
EXPRESS ; ar

which for ten years have drawn hundreds
of youngsters to week-long taining ses-
SIONS at various North Shore soxcer, pitch-
cs.

"The camps have begun te enake ‘their
way off che North Shore and into the ii.
tior, spreading this season to Willian: Cake
and Prince Geurge. 0 PAE

Lenardu7zi also provided coloancin
mentary for CBC during Canada’s (univ
appearance in World Cup play in Mexico in
1986. He currently splits iste between
the soccer camps and as a rep for Labatt
Breweries.

Ar 51, Lenarduzzi shows.no- say, of
slowing, down, | ; .

He currently plays ona ‘niantiber’ ‘of
Vancouver Over-30, -40 and -50° soccer
squads and he and Bob were-part of. the
Columbus squad thar’ recently won! the

ioB.C. Over-30 crown.

*< “The nice part about being, this age isl
carr play wherever I want to,” he said/“It's:
an interesting range, and Treally’ enjoy the ;
competition.” .