Congratulations!!! to our founder and President, Ben Vandenhazel for being inducted into the Utah Soccer Hall of Fame.

(The information above was provided by the Utah Amateur Soccer Association)

 

 

Tribute About Ben

 

Why did the Little Dutch boy stick his finger in the dike? As famous as this story is no one has sufficiently answered this question. Some foolishly believe the boy’s heroic action was to save the lives of many people. They are wrong! The true story is: The Little Dutch boy was juggling his soccer ball. He bounced it off, what he perceived to be, the perfect practice wall. The wall was actually a dike built to hold back the raging waters of the Zuider Zee. At first, the boy noticed a small droplet of water trickling down the wall. He played on. The trickle became a stream. The boy panicked! What if the stream became a river and the river a deluge? What if the dike broke and flooded the village? Oh well, what’s a cow or two? Suddenly, an image popped into his head. The horror was unspeakable! What if the rushing water engulfed the soccer field. Quickly, the Little Dutch Boy sprang into action! He stuck his finger in the crack in the dike. (After all, he would not need a finger to play soccer.) The village was saved! Holland was saved! The soccer field was saved!!! And the Little Dutch Boy lived to play another day.

Fields of colorful tulips, windmills stirring the summer breeze, lazy canals meandering throughout the green countryside and the Dutch Orange, the world’s best soccer team distinguishes the tiny Netherlands, the land of Ben’s birth. As a boy, Ben would dream the dream of every Dutch schoolboy, to play soccer for one of the Dutch clubs. Youth soccer was not organized for players until the age of eleven. The children organized their own teams. Without coaches, without trainers, without any adults, the teams from the various neighborhoods played street soccer. They learned from each other and gained the ability to think for themselves. Ben played soccer in the streets and much to his mother’s dismay, in the house. One by one her plate collection disappeared, victims of a soccer ball.

At age 10, Ben tried out for the club representing his city of Utrecht. A friend and fellow street player encouraged Ben to attend the city-wide search. Ben made the upper division team, his friend did not. He became a member of the Stichtse Boys (The Boys of Utrecht). Ben fondly recalls the pride of the team. The teams from other cities had more money and would arrive at the field on fancy touring buses. Ben’s team members would travel to the games on their bicycles. Bike riding all over Holland must have been great leg exercise for the poor boys of Utrecht because they would proceed to beat the opponents with lop-sided scores.

Professional soccer was unheard of in Holland and playing for a top club was the “goal” of the Dutch player. Money and contracts did not appear on the scene until 1954. Soccer was played for the love of the game.

Ben had another dream, in addition to soccer, he wanted to go to America. In 1957, he realized the dream of every immigrant and sailed for what would become his adopted land. Ben did not stand at the ship railing and receive a welcome from the Statue of Liberty. He slept through it, his brother forgot to wake him.

When Ben arrived in Utah, he soon discovered the land of opportunity did not offer opportunities for youth soccer. Ben contacted the senior team, Rapid. Rapid was comprised of Dutch immigrants. The club colors were green and white. The fabric of the jerseys was a thick cotton. When it rained, the jersey was so heavy, Ben thought it was similar to running in armor. His position was outside wing. He always wore the number 7. (Ben grandsons, Tristan and Rhyder and granddaughter, Meghan all wear number 7.) Ben was fast and could “pass on a dime.” Rapid played on Saturday afternoons at Riverside Park. When Rapid disbanded, Ben played on other senior teams such as: Berlin and Utah Pioneers, with his nephew Perry, (Coached by Rudy Seipel).

Ben turned his attention to coaching when some of the neighborhood boys watched him juggling and heading the soccer ball and thought this “new” game looked interesting. They asked Ben to teach them how to play. Ben loves a challenge and this was certainly one. He had to teach a group of American teenagers how to play and the rules of the game. The team name was Knossa and they wore purple. Knossa had a name, a uniform and a league, but could they play? It did not take long for the team to start climbing from the youth division to the senior ranks. When the boys grew older, missions and school took a toll on the team membership. Knossa disbanded.

Ben coached Hillcrest High School’s soccer team when soccer was not a recognized high school sport. In the beginning, the coaches were soccer experts and not staff teachers. The teams had to solicit funds from the community to purchase uniforms, balls, and nets. Hillcrest sold a bumper sticker which read: “Soccer is a kick in the grass” The sticker was black and white because that is all the team could afford to print. If only they had thoughts to copyright the saying.

Then, just as before a couple of boys from the neighborhood ask Ben to teach them how to play soccer. This was the beginning of a life-long dedication to youth soccer. The team became the Eagles. At first, the Eagles played in a recreation league. Utah Youth Soccer Association was just an idea. There were no competitive leagues. Ben took the Eagles to Las Vegas to a tournament. California teams were at the tournament and won everything. Ben returned home and suggested a competition league. The next time the Eagles traveled was to Far West Regionals in Sacramento, California. The Eagles did well until they met a team from Livermore, California. When the game began, Ben knew the Eagles were outmatched. The players were begging to come out of the game instead of going into the game. When it was over the final score was (5-0). The Eagle had landed! This was Utah soccer’s debut at Far West Regionals. Ben talked with the opposing coach and discovered Ben’s little team just played a California soccer power. The coach told Ben he had over a 1,000 players at tryouts. Ben had 15 try out and they all made the team.

When Ben returned from Regionals, he knew there was a need for a super-league to compete with the more advanced California teams. UYSA had been created so Ben suggested a select district team. The league became known as AAA. He formed Sparta ’69. The team was comprised of players from several teams including the Eagles. Sparta ’69 was a pioneer. The following year, Ben established the Sparta United Soccer Club. Phil and Joyce Roberts, Kathy Kuhn, Tom Clifford, Mike Hansen, and John Oviatt joined the organization. Sparta became the first Utah AAA youth club. And as they say: “The rest is history.”

Besides coaching Sparta ’69, Ben coached: Sparta ’71, Sparta 74, Sparta 77, (the only boys team from Utah to ever win the Surf Cup U-19 Super Group), he also coached Sparta ’88 and Sparta ’92.

Ben was not the Little Dutch Boy who stuck his finger in the Dike, however, he did release a flood— a flood of youth soccer.

Now it is apparent why we have been asking so many questions. We are very proud of you and your accomplishments. Thank you for letting us share your dream and the realization of that dream. You deserve the recognition, although you would be the last to seek it. We know more than anyone how important Sparta is to you. We will always remember the neighborhood boys ringing the door bell and asking: “Can Ben come out and play?” So many families are grateful you did! We know you believe in the players and teach them to shoot for the stars, anything is possible.