Heavy Eric was part of the "Willingdon Park Johnny's" soccer
club for 10 years. The Johnny's had some "auspicious" learning
curves but finally came together in their last year of 1st division.
The Johnny's played in tournaments in Seattle, Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton,
and San Pedro, California. But the highlight of highlights was when
they took on the powerful "Wesburn Beedie Construction" team
in the Burnaby Cup st division final at Swangard Stadium. The Johnny's
came out of the dressing room pumped up by the sounds of the freshly
released songs "We will rock you" & "We are the champions"
by the rock group "Queen". It was a hard fought match. Perrenial
all-star goalie Dave Pastega had to leave the game due to injury with
the Johnny's up 2-0. It looked like it might be time for the Johnny's
to crumble but the unflappable Howard Tong came in and preserved the
shutout as the Johnny's added 2 late goals for a 4-0 victory. Willingdon
Park soccer was on the map. As legendary german soccer TV analyst Toby
Charles would say, "Anything's possible in world cup football!"
The Johnnys
also won in a tournament in Victoria, BC. Renato "the doctor"
Mazzarola willed the Johnnies to a string of exhilirating victories
as they captured the prestigous and coveted Gordon Head Tournament in
Victoria, BC, Canada!!!!! For this Mazzarola was featured on the covers
of The Rolling Stone and Cosmopolitan magazines, simultaneously. He
then became the midfield general of Panamas National Team for a brief
period of time before a nite club dance step injury forced him into
a coaching position with Bourrassa Mouchengladbach of the Bundesligas........Fans
around the world still clamour for a Renato Mazzarolo comeback!!!!!!!!!!!!
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