The Corporate Cup is an annual 5-on-5 soccer tournament sponsored by the San Jose Earthquakes. It is an-all day event in which each team plays three games before a potential final.
Money from the entry fees goes to a local charity. The 2nd annual event took place on Saturday at the Nutrilite Training Facility in San Jose. Teams from across the Bay Area included Visa, Sony Computer Entertainment America, V&M Construction, Zynga, Playdom, Vocera, and NetApp. The champion in each division won a trophy and all participants received a commemorative 2011 Corporate Cup T-shirt. The event also had free beer sampling from Gordon Biersch and cuisine courtesy of Cosmo Catering.
The only team from Livermore was V&M Construction. And they won! I caught up with V&M owner, Bill Vigus, to get the scoop. Here is an excerpt of our dialogue:
Hi Bill. Congratulations on winning the Cup! And thank you in advance for taking the time to answer a few questions. Let's start with your background in soccer. What got you into soccer?
I started playing soccer in grammar school in the late 60’s in Cupertino. My first Coach was a guy by the name of William Klaus that played for West Germany in the early 1960’s. I saw him do a bicycle kick at our practice and I was hooked. I’ll never forget that man, I think I had to pick my jaw up off the ground. Teams that I’ve played for over the years: Grammar school years was the Snakes in Cupertino for about four years. Then our family moved to Pleasanton in 1973 and I played for Ballistic United in Pleasanton from 1973- 1980. I played for Foothill High school in 79 and 80. Played for a co-ed team in the late 1990’s again with my sister Jamie for a season or two. Still looking to play again but this time it has to be over 40 at least. Being almost 50 I wouldn’t even think about running around with 20 or 30 year olds (chuckling).
How did you make the transition from playing to coaching?
I’ve been coaching since 1978, while I was in High School. I had younger sisters that started to play and was an assistant coach for my sisters teams for a few years. My father volunteered to coach and really didn’t know the game and wanted my help. I’ve coached in Fremont for a few years for my oldest daughters Toni’s teams. We moved to Livermore in 2001 and started my two youngest children, Marijane and James, right away in soccer. I have coached both their teams for years. I’m still coaching Marianne’s U-16 girls. So, I guess you could say it’s been a fun long road, and I look forward to the start of the next season every year.
Can you address any specific challenges in coaching boys versus girls at the youth level?
There are different challenges coaching boys and girls at different age groups. U-6 boys or girls it’s all about keeping them focused on having fun and not kicking each other or messing with each other. But at that age they sure are fun to watch. As the kids grow up boys sometimes catch on sooner to aspects of how to play the game, their more apt to watching a professional game. I had a U-10 boys team that went undefeated, they really understood what I was teaching them. At U-14 / U-16 age group they have a pretty good understanding of how the game is to be played and positions. This is my second year coaching at the U-16 girls level and I love it. The most important thing at this age group is that they learn life’s lessons as a team that they will use later in life as adults, and that they return each year wanting to play.
What do you do when you are not playing or coaching soccer?
Well if you ask my wife Stacy she’d say watching soccer on TV or being at a SJ Earthquake game. I just can’t get enough of the sport that I grew up as a child loving to play. Other than that it’s work, work, work
How did you end up being part of the Corporate Cup?
I’ve been a season ticket holder since the start of the MLS 1996 season. My company. V & M Construction. has been a Corporate sponsor for the Earthquakes for the past two years. I knew this year it was time to put a team together for the Corporate Cup.
What division did the team compete in?
We played in the co-ed bracket. I’m too old to play in the Men’s open bracket, but we may put a team together next year for both brackets. We’ll have to wait and see.
Who were the competitors on your team?
We are a family based business so most of our players were family friends. Nedra Cassarino was in goal, and she did a great job. My niece Alyssa Rittman who played here in Livermore. Tori Parker who played for my LYSL Team last year. Mauro Manzano and Phil Parker who I’ve coached with over the years. Then there’s my friends Ash, Frankie, Muk, and Sam who all grew up playing the sport and still play all over the Bay Area.
What were you impressions of the event, from the games to the hospitality and everything between?
I tip my hat to the whole SJ Earthquake organization for putting on a great event. A special thank you to Anthony Perry with the front office for talking me into putting a team together. The food was great from Cosmo Catering and the beer after from Gordon sure tasted good after it was over. Thank you to everyone involved.
How did you do in each game? How did you do overall?
Well first game against Zynga we won 8-0. The second game was a forfeit unfortunately cause one team didn’t make it to the tournament. I would have rather play and lost than win that way. Our third game was against Peoples Associates. We won 7-1. The championship game was against Peoples Associates and we won 9-1. Zynga & Peoples Associates were great competitors.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Looking forward to next year and defending our title at the Corporate Cup, and coaching for years to come for Fusion SC here in Livermore. If anyone sees me on the field please come up and say hello, I love talking soccer.
Thanks, Bill. And congrats once again on your victory.
Do you have a soccer related question? Want to read an interview with a local soccer hero? Is there certain coverage that you've wanted to see regarding soccer in our area? You can contact me at roundballrocker@yahoo.com
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