SFIAC a San Francisco Icon Returns

SFIAC: a San Francisco Icon Returns
to the Dusty Pitches of the San Francisco Soccer Football League

The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC) is one of the oldest and charter members of the San Francisco Soccer Football League, which is the oldest league in the country, having been established in 1902.  Although SFIAC has had numerous local championships over their long history they are most remembered for the glory days in the 1970's when many of the international players of USF's National Championship teams blessed the club with their athleticism.

Most note worthy was the team in 1976 which won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the most prestigeous award won by any team in the country.  This team included former Nigerian International Andy Atuegbu, John & Dave Fromer, and David Harvard who all still live locally in the Bay Area.  But, as the years went on, and the club lost touch with their athletics the team ended up folding about five years ago, until there was a revelation and a bit of a revolution in the club to return to athletics.

The return of SFIAC started with the efforts of the new Athletic Director Marco Innocenti and member John Galletta pushing for the return of the San Francicso icon back to the pitches of the San Francisco Soccer Football League.  On the advise of Mr. Galletta they contacted Tighe O'Sullivan, the President of Club Marin, about taking over the coaching and an advisoriy role with the Squadra of SFIAC.

Having given up any role in coaching within his own club's four teams due to being a conflict of interest he jumped at the chance to revitalize a club he had previously honored for their tradition. He was devasted with disappointment when they left the league several years ago due to their historical significance to the league.  He quickly began by bringing 7 players from Club Marin with Italian heritage to his new project.  Turns out they are the backbone of the team.

The most noteable player to come across is former Club Marin Premier player Matthew Zatto.  Zatto in four matches has scored 9 of the teams 16 goals and has a few assists as well.  At this rate he is on a pace to score over 50 goals.  Zatto may be the one finishing the goals but the efforts of Federico Calvi and Greg Urmini make his life simple as they battle to make his life easy in the attack. 

In the teams first four matches they are with three wins and a loss.  They have only given up three goals defensively with two of them being in the loss which saw them missing 7 players including their entire back line due to conflicts, injuries, and sickness.  The defense is led by strong men Devon Young, Owen Ridings, and Marco Innocenti.  Bizarrley the defense is also part of this teams offense with the outside backs attacking continuosly through the efforts of Josh Newland and youngster Sean Galletta.

Currently SFIAC has the best offense and defense in the league, and they don't see themselves letting up on the pace.  Outside of the loss where they played a tradional system of play, they have confused their opponents time and again with a style of play most teams don't understand or know how to defend.  Coach O'Sullivan chuckles when recalling a outside midfielder from the former league leader calling out to his coach, "I don't know who to defend, I don't have anyone", as the young Galletta ran right by him from the back receiving a pass and serving a dangerous cross into the penalty box. 

The team has only one goal for this season and it is to bring glory and hardware back to the club which has not had any new silverware in their trophy cabinets in a long time.  They want to honor the club which has honored them by giving them the opportunity to play for this truly historical San Francisco icon.  So go out on Sunday in Golden Gate Park and see the boys strive to acheive their goals and honor the Italian heritage which so many of them hold so dear.