Former 麻豆社国产resident Mike Sweeney has another feather to add to his cap.
Sweeney starred for years in the several North American soccer leagues in the 1980s and was also a key member of the most recent Canadian men's team to qualify for the World Cup in 1986.
He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002 and earlier this month he was named one of the best 11 players of the past 50 years by Soccer Canada. Sweeney said it was an honour to be named to the list.
"The award from the Hall of Fame was obviously a wonderful honour," he told The Chief. "As much for the recognition as for the great respect I have from longtime fellow teammates who are great players but who weren't selected.
"There were a few different players chosen for the all-time team but again, there are some great contributors to the success of soccer in Canada not on that list, either. It is genuinely an honour after all this time to be remembered as a positive contributor to a great run in Canadian soccer."
Sweeney added that he never could have accomplished all he did if he hadn't grown up in Squamish.
"麻豆社国产has been and always will beimportant to me, not just because of great friends and family memoriesbut because it is such a special place," he said. "There are some very important people from myyouth days in 麻豆社国产that were tremendously influential in my ability to get opportunities. John Gilmour, Jimmy Dunnett, Peter Hotston, Don Ross, Ross Dinwoodie, Imre Sorban, Rudy Van De Kamp were all great examples in every way that was important to a teenager looking to move on."
Sweeney has settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and is quite involved with the soccer scene in the city. He runs several youth clubs and manages a number of camps, staying busy passing on his knowledge of the game he loves.
He still manages to make it back to 麻豆社国产on occasion, as several of his family members still live in town. Sweeney was the oldest of six children and his brothers Sean, Dave and Donald still call 麻豆社国产home, as well as his aunt, Molly Goodgrove.
For more information on the spectacular career of Mike Sweeney, visit his Canada Soccer profile at http://www.canadasoccer.com/players/profile.asp?playerid=1226.
