On Jan. 22 and 23, the first International Soccer Tournament was held at the new Truman Waterfront field.
Organizer Stanley Maytasik said he was thrilled with the level of sportsmanship and competition. Players in the adult tournament came from all over the world, including Poland, Cuba, Russia, Venezuela and the United States. Coach Robert Juszczyk of the Chicago-based team that placed third in the tourney remarked how impressed his team was by the state-of-the-art field and the warm reception the team received in Key West.
The final game on Sunday, Jan. 23 resulted in Team International, led by Venezuelan Coach Mario Mendel, taking first place with a score of 5-4 against an aggressive Key West team that fought hard until the end.
Co-sponsored by The Matthew Gilleran Scholarship Fund, organizers look forward to this annual tournament growing even larger next year. The organizers specifically expressed gratitude to Key West’s Community Services workers, led by Marcus Davila, who were extremely professional in helping prepare the facility and field for the tournament that brought nine soccer teams and supporters to the Southernmost City for the first-ever adult tournament at the new field at Truman Waterfront.
Maytasik and Gilleran said they hope this is the first of many such events at the facility.
