Senate Resolution No. 4658

BY: Senator GOLDEN

COMMENDING the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club, Inc.
upon the occasion of hosting its 43rd Annual Gala on
May 4, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those
organizations which faithfully devote their purposeful energies to
fostering opportunities for and to contributing to the quality of life
for the people of the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the
Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its
43rd Annual Gala on Friday May 4, 2018, at El Caribe Country Club in
Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion is an opportunity to celebrate the
Brooklyn community and the much loved game of soccer; and

WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club has won two United States
Open Cup Championships, and produced professional players, general
managers and international coaches; since its inception, thousands of
students have participated in this amazing program which maintains a
large following of loyal club members with over 157,000 annual hits to
its website; and

WHEREAS, After World War II, numerous Italians immigrated to the
United States of America, with many Southern Italians settling in
Brooklyn; groups of immigrants came together to form social clubs, which
assisted them in their transition to life in their newly adopted
country; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1949, the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club became
one of the earliest teams in the New York City area and competed in
local leagues in the area against rival social clubs; and

WHEREAS, Thirty years later, the Brooklyn Italians, under the
leadership of Coach Lorenzo DiSimone, won the US Open Cup under the name
"Brooklyn Dodgers"; the Dodgers captured the Cup after defeating Croatia
S.C. in a close 2-1 victory at the Winnimac Stadium in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the Brooklyn Italians defeated the Richardson
Rockets of Texas in an intense 1-0 win, with the lone goal scored in the
seventh minute from Ernest Inneh; and

WHEREAS, Under the mentorship of President Jerry Valerio, the
Brooklyn Italians Youth Sector captured an international trophy in 1997,
and the Under-14 squad won the Enzo Ferrari International Youth
Tournament in Maranello, Italy; and

WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous leadership of President John
Saia, the Club consists of over 800 youth players who play soccer in
various local leagues, tournaments and cups; each year, the teams
compete in the Dallas Cup in Texas, and the Vincenzo Romano Torneo in
Rome; and


WHEREAS, The first team participates in the National Premier Soccer
League, which placed first in the Atlantic Division in 2011 and 2013,
and second in 2010 and 2012; the youth sector competes in the New York
Club Soccer League; and

WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club hosts two major
tournaments, the Christopher Columbus Cup and the New York City Indoor
Classic; and

WHEREAS, For almost 70 years, the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club has
strived to foster a love of soccer to the residents of Brooklyn, through
experimentation with the game; it is also committed to positively
changing lives, one soccer player at a time; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention
to organizations such as the Brooklyn Italians Youth Soccer Club which
serve to bring people together for a united purpose and serve the
recreational needs of the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club, Inc. upon the occasion of
hosting its 43rd Annual Gala on May 4, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to John Saia, President, Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club, Inc.