• IN MEMORIAM •

June 2024 – Al Bashiri

We have lost a good and loyal friend.

It is sad and unbelievable that Al had to leave us so unexpectedly.

He was a fair and outstanding sportsman who always served the team without drawing attention to himself.

Al, you will always be in our hearts, and we will never forget you.

Tribute to Al Bashiri

I first met Al in 1995 at Webb Bridge Park. I was training alone that day and noticed a group of Foreigners doing drills and set pieces on one of the fields. After observing for several minutes, I was asked to join in. After this training we sat around and had some good conversations. They asked me what country I thought that they were from. I said most likely Iran. They all laughed and said no, Eron. I said then why do you spell it Iran. They laughed again and proceeded to tell me a little about their culture and to just refer to them as Persians. Fine with me and I started to train with them week in and week out with Al being the man in charge. 

Al persevered through several knee surgeries which slowed him down a little, but he never gave up. His passion for the game was infectious. Fun to play with, but tough to play against. He had a hard and accurate shot as anybody. His ability to “nutmeg” you even when you knew it was coming was uncanny. He was even a descent goalkeeper if needed. No weaknesses in his game. 

Al had great passion for all of life, not just soccer. He was very hands on with everything he was involved with, not just coaching, organizing and playing, but in business as well. When you walked through the doors to his Altobellis restaurant, he was usually in the front ready to seat you with the day’s menu. After seating, he would chat and then take your drink order. He would then go to the bar to sometimes make the drinks and then deliver them in person. He would then duck into the kitchen to oversee the cooking. I believe if he could play the piano, he would do that as well. In fact, if there was valet parking, he would probably park the “damn” cars. 

I just want to say that it is an honor to have Als wife and Family here this morning for this ceremony. It shows how much this club means to each and every player of their age. Al loved this club! And thank you Karl-Heinz Lochner for developing this club with Respect and Tolerance as our main objective. 

For those of you who were thinking of cancelling either the Greensboro or Wales tournaments that Al has set up, please don’t. Go. Play your hearts out. Have fun in his memory and try to bring back one last trophy in his name. Al Bashiri-Sportsman and Gentleman Forever. 

Dane Wooldridge 

February 2022 – Wilder Rosales

We have lost a good and faithful friend. It is sad and incredible
that Wilder had to leave us so unexpectedly. He was a fair and
excellent sportsman who always served the team without
drawing attention to himself.
Wilder, you will always be in our hearts, and we will never forget
you

Tribute to Wilder Rosales

Wilder asked me if he could play in the O65 division. He did not have many contacts
with the division. So, I said “ok” and told him to register himself. This was a few years
ago. Since then, he  played many games with us, not only with my team, but also
with other teams. His playing style was unique. He liked to use different moves in his
play. One of his signature moves was “a full turn-around himself” at the ball. He used
this technique to trick other players, and it worked very well.
He liked playing soccer and also liked  socializing with people after the game.
He and I went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the 2021 Soccer Fest. He drove himself with
his pickup track from here to Wisconsin (850 miles). He and I communicated thru text
messages on the way. He made it there in one day, while I drove with my wife spending
two days to get there.
He played in the over 75 division with a team from New England. Although he did not
know many players there, he did play very well. He handed me his iphone to take a lot
of pictures in the game. So, I took many pictures of him playing soccer. He said to me
that this was very important for him to have many pictures. Since he was alone during
the Soccer Fest, we socialized together in Milwaukee.
He and I looked for a Spanish restaurant there and we found a Mexican restaurant “El
Tenampa” where we ate and talked about our lives with some drinks. He talked about
his divorce in the past, which was similar to an experience in my life. So, we talked a lot

openly. We also had lunch together with Karl and his wife, Louise, and Richard at the
same restaurant the next day. On the last day in Milwaukee, we ended up with our team
dinner at the same Mexican restaurant that Wilder liked a lot.
He used to call me before the games asking me “do we have game and what time?” It
was almost every Sunday whenever we had our games.
I am going to miss his phone calls from now on.
He was very shy in the beginning, but it did not take long for us to get know each other.

Wilder, we’re going to miss you a lot, especially at our soccer fields, East Roswell Park
and Groveway Pak where our friendship will remain.

Rest in peace Wilder.

Yasuo Matsuzawa

January 2018 – Samir Jordak

We have lost a good and faithful friend. It is sad and incredible that Sammy had to leave us so unexpectedly. He was a fair and excellent sportsman who always served the team without drawing attention to himself. We will forever miss hearing him say “let it go.”

Sammy, you will always be in our hearts, we will never forget you.

Tribute to Samir Jordak

After a game Sami ask me to join him for a dessert at his friend’s patisserie

in Norcross.

His friend, the owner and chef, was from Lebanon where Sammy was born.

He said he calls him when he bakes Kunefe, a Mediterranean sweet

cheese pastry made with kadaifi, soaked in heavy sugar syrup.

Sammy's favorite dessert.

As expected, he cut him a generous serving. Before starting to eat

Sammy got up and went to the counter and returned with a big bagel.

I asked him if he is going to take the bagel home. He said no and

said „watch me".

To my amazement he ate that big dessert with that huge bagel.

I knew Sammy had a big appetite but kunefe with bagel!!!

Later he told me back when he was a child that was typical

breakfast with high calories to keep them full for most of the

day.

Rest in peace Sammy.

Ramiz Okyay

March 2015 – Dietmar Doehring

He was one of the individuals, in making our Club what it is today. When it came to organizing, recruiting, and managing many of our teams over the years, he was mostly successful.

You have left us with a lot of memories.

Tribute to Dietmar Doehring

Dietmar was a special man. He had a tough outer shell and wasn't afraid to speak openly about anyone, even if it was painful. The fact that he was also ready to lose a friendship didn't stop him from sharing his thoughts.

Dietmar loved the color pink. Even the uniform of our tournament team was this color. He liked to organize tournaments, be it for the Florida Classics or Veterans Cup. He always negotiated very skillfully with the hotels to get a special rate for the team. In 2012 he also negotiated a special discount for all women with a nail salon in Escondido. He even tried their services and had his toenails painted.

Our two club victories at the Veterans Cup 2012 (O65) in Escondido and 2014 (O70) in Virginia Beach were under his leadership. He always knew how to publicize these successes, be it in newspapers or at a team meeting with the governor of Georgia.

Rest in peace Dietmar

Karl-Heinz Lochner