Platini will speak at Singapore Conference
…MICHEL PLATINI, president of France ’98, has joined the roster of soccer personalities who have confirmed as speakers for FOOTBALL EXPO ’98 to be held Jan. 6-8, 1998 in Singapore. Platini will join U.S. Soccer president ALAN ROTHENBERG in presenting a program titled, “Hosting International Events ù Achieving Maximum Potential.” For more information, call DANA SCANLON at (703) 522-5000…
Apologies to the Newmans
…As a magazine goes to press, every editor sends up a tiny silent prayer encouraging the Higher Being that watches over the written word to insure that there are no nasty typos or errors in the new issue. I guess our message wasn’t quite loud enough last week because some of our dearest friends got their name misspelled right in a headline. Our regrets to RON and GUY NEWMAN for the missing W. Please just chalk it up to a late-night deadline and weary eyes…
SA to host Executive Symposium
…For the eighth year,
Soccer America will present an executive symposium at the SOCCER INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF AMERICA Leadership Conference. On the panel will be GLEN KIRTON, former tournament director for Euro ’96 and current senior vice president-football with ISL World Wide, and JEFF BLISS, former senior vice president for World Cup USA 1994, and now a private consultant. They will highlight a panel program entitled, “Soccer as a Global Business: Where Will the U.S. Fit In?” Soccer has grown into a global enterprise ù but where will it be five years from now? Just some of the factors driving these changes include creation of the European Union, the impact of television, a new understanding of sophisticated marketing techniques, and the first Asian World Cup. Today, team-licensed merchandise is just as likely to end up on the back of a fan halfway around the world as it is in the team’s home town. U.S. companies are snapping up international soccer properties and European clubs are considering investments in U.S. pro soccer to get a toehold in the U.S. market. This year’s SICA conference is being held at the Turnberry Isle Resort in Aventura, Florida. It will be held Oct. 17-20, with the Executive Symposium scheduled for Oct. 18 (Saturday) at 8 a.m….
Jacksonville’s Viollet stricken
…DENNIS VIOLLET, who survived the 1958 Munich air disaster and played in the old National Professional Soccer League before starting a coaching career in the United States, has been diagnosed with brain cancer and is recovering from surgery. Viollet coached soccer at Jacksonville University before turning to the American pro leagues. After several years he coached the Richmond Kickers in the A-League and recently returned to Jacksonville to coach the Cyclones, the new Jacksonville A-League team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Viollet survived the 1958 plane crash in which nine of his Manchester United teammates and several team officials and journalists perished. He resumed his playing career for United and later came to the United States to play for the Baltimore Bays, which reached the finals of the 1967 NPSL playoffs. Friends can send letters and cards to Viollet at: Jacksonville Cyclones, 9428 Baymeadows Rd., Suite 175, Jacksonville FL 32256, or can leave a message at the team’s offices (904)737-9800. A special thanks to former NASL public relations executive AMY RANKIN, who now lives in Jacksonville, for this update on one of soccer’s most unselfish personalities…
Soccer in the Streets featured on CBS
…Inner-city soccer program, SOCCER IN THE STREETS and its executive director and founder CAROLYN MCKENZIE have been making news. SITS was recently featured in a CBS National News segment that ran in mid-July, and McKenzie was profiled in
Essence Magazine. She was also presented the
Sporting Goods Business Woman of the Year in Sports award…
by Soccer America
Publisher Lynn Berling-Manuel
