WAILUA — The Friendship Games served more than to just mark the end of the American Youth Soccer Organization Under 10 season. It also served to inaugurate the Weinberg Sports Park that was blessed by the Friends of Kamalani recently
WAILUA — The Friendship Games served more than to just mark the end of the American Youth Soccer Organization Under 10 season.
It also served to inaugurate the Weinberg Sports Park that was blessed by the Friends of Kamalani recently at Lydgate Park.
“We’ve got six games going at the same time,” said Sonny Kaona, a referee and coordinator for the AYSO, Region 941, Saturday. “This is the first time games are being played at this park, and we’re following all the rules. It’s great to see all the kids out there having fun in this new park.”
Cars lined Leho Drive from the entrance of Kamalani Kai Bridge through the entrance of Lydgate Park as Under 10 teams from the AYSO Region 940 (West) and AYSO Region 941 (East) squared off in a series of friendly competition.
Maile Moriguchi, press coordinator for AYSO Region 940, said during the normal season, teams from these two regions rarely get to play each other. The Friendship Games offers an opportunity for teams in the two regions to play against each other in friendly competition in the Under 10 division.
Last week, AYSO Region 940 wrapped up its Under 6 and Under 8 divisions with the annual Soccer Fest, a day-long series of friendly games highlighted by the availability of bouncers, food and festivities. These were hosted at both the Hanapepe Bay Park adjacent to Hanapepe Stadium and the North Vidinha fields.
For players in the Under 12 and Under 14 games, Moriguchi said double elimination playoffs are currently underway with the championships for the Under 12 and Under 14 girls scheduled for Monday starting at 4 p.m. at Hanapepe Stadium.
The championships for the Under 12 and Under 14 boys take place starting at 4 p.m. at Hanapepe Stadium with the winners of the divisions advancing to the Wil Veech tournament, Nov. 9-12 at Vidinha Stadium.
Yuki Sassone, commissioner for the AYSO Region 941, said similar playoffs are taking place for their region with the winners advancing to meet the AYSO Region 940 winners at the Wil Veech tournament.
“This is so exciting to see the kids playing on the new Weinberg Sports Park,” said John Lydgate, whose grandfather is the namesake for the Lydgate Park that adjoins the sports facility. “It took several years and a lot of work from a lot of people, but now the children are enjoying this park.”
The sports park, dedicated and blessed on Sept. 18, is part of the multi-phase Lydgate Park master plan, which includes picnic and day use areas, campgrounds, a segment of the Ke Ala Hele Makala‘e 16-mile multi-use coastal path, and the Kamalani Playground, Bridge and Pavilion.
Lydgate said one of the unique features of the sports park is its underground irrigation system. None of the other county parks have a similar system and the Weinberg Sports Park is designed to use the excess R-2 rated water from the Wailua Golf Course irrigation system.
