Soccer Teams Wanted for Multi-Cultural Tournament

Local soccer teams have until Friday to sign up for the 2011 Play For Peace/Jugando Por La Paz Soccer Tournament, which will take place on Saturday, July 30 in Medford.

The tournament, organized by the office of Suffolk County Legis. Jack Eddington, is an effort to pull together the culturally diverse community with the game of soccer.

This year, there are spots for 16 men’s teams and eight women’s teams. Each team will compete in at least three, 40-minute games, culminating in a final match-up with the two best men’s teams and the two best women’s teams.

The winning team will receive a trophy and the title of champion.

A team sponsored by the has won the tournament in 2009 and 2010. The trophy from the tournament was put on display on a shelf in the restaurant.

"We have people from all different ethnic backgrounds," said Pita House owner Joff Sahin regarding the 2010 tournament.

"My team is not only Turkish but I also got Croatians, Serbs, Hispanics, Americans, and some of the teams have mixed players from all over," Sahin said.

Those interesting in registering a team should contact Rob Calarco at Legis. Eddington’s office by phone at 631-854-1400 or by email at Robert.Calarco@SuffolkCountyny.gov.