HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

By BOBBY LENARDUZZI

When we started a game
against Toronto Blizzard last
July in Toronto, nobody
realized that by the end of
the match, I would set a
record for a_ professional
soccer player. And if I had
known what was to happen,
I'm not so sure I would have
looked forward to it.

During the first half, goal-
keeper Tino Lettieri injured
his knee and by the end of
the half he wasn't able to
continue. Since we didn’t
have a backup, I ended up in
goal for the second half.

That appearance made me
the ony player to have
played every position in pro-
fessional ranks — at least in
North America. And when |
remember just how wide
those posts seemed, it’s not a
position I want to try again.

But what the record
doesn't point out, in an exag-
gerated way, is that a ver-
satile player can be far more
valuable to his team than a
specialist.
__While there is no d
my mind that I am a
defender and nor a _ goal-
keeper, I have been able to
make a go of it at all posi-
tions over my 10 years with
the Whitecaps, five years
with Reading in England and
with the Canadian national
team. And after this length
of ume, I've, reached the
conclusion that a_ player
doesn’t find where-he really
belongs until he’s 20 or 21.

AS a young juvenile player
in Vancouver, I covered the
field from forward to
defender. Later when I went
to Reading as a 15 year-old, I

played everywhere on the
backline and in midfield. As
a Whitecap, I've played
them all.

Being versatile gives a
coach more options.

Back in 1978, I was moved
up to midfield when one of
the regulars was injured.

Our assistant coach, Alan

Every position

Lyi aiiby a
INS EZ

| ersatility the key

It was that same year one
of our forwards was injured
during a game and I moved

up to the front. line. and -.
winning goal «
Seattle Sounders. «=
Later that season the same =
against - =

scored the
against

thing happened
Washington Diplomats.

That was a year I couldn't
do anythmg wrong. But
Since then, I've been
employed as a fullback, a
position where I feel most
comfortable.

When it comes to tending
goal, the first time I had that
experience was with the
Canadian national team in
1977 when we were playing a
junior team in Haiti. Our
keeper had been injured and
I was pressed into service.
Fortunately, I didn't have
much to do and we won.

I used to fool around in
goal before practices started
and I guess it was from that
that I became the last-hope
goalkeeper. But believe me,
it’s far different fooling

pia

ce ®

WITH THE CAPS

Hinton, felt I could handle
the job. and in one sense, he
was right. During that
season, | scored 10 goals and
17 assists as a midftetder and
was named North American
Player of the Year. But in
spite of all the good things
that happened that season, I
felt more comfortable on the
back line. However, having
had the experience of play-
ing that position, I was able
to step in when needed.

° SE

around to being in there dur-
ing the heat of the action.
While not everyone
should not have to try being
a poalkeeper in action, all
players should give them-
selves the chance to ex-
perience every position.

Oh, you were wondering
about that game against
Toronto. I let in one easy
goal and we lost 3-1. A heck
of a way to set a record!

Three over two

The long awaited clash
between the two West Van
teams hved up to everyone's
expectations with West Van
Three winning 4-2 over WV
Iwo

West Van Three went
ahead carly but W.V. Two
came storming back and
deservedly went ahead on
two goals by Leshe Watters

Vo Two conunued ta
press in the second half but

wry Three held fast

equalized and inoa flurry of
last minute acthon scored
two goals to chnch victory
Elizabeth Butler (2)
Sheilagh Fraser and Andrea
May scored for the winners ry O
while Kirsten Evenden and . sina oR cup: coock neler
lor the losers Claire wy Pe Let
Mc Kinney wee oul Watch for our, Parking Lot sale APRIL
standing in deftease
— aw ee oe oe TP Hm Se ee AE SD ee cee cE See ce GD ES SENS ERED ee ue me

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