¡Sports
Szanto leads Cougars to No.l
salary,” Szanto added.
something happening to him,
On the team he toured the he spoke with the Hungarian
Western countries until he was ambassador in Washington,
24 . years when the team was D.C. They advised him to
I Clackamas Community touring South America. From check in with the American
■liege Soccer Coach Janos there they went on to Mon Embassy in Hungary every 24
■nto, a former member of treal. The team was under strict hours to let them know he was
the Hungarian national soccer rules to not go out on their own alt right.
Szanto says that living in a
team ended his career playing because they didn’t have in
soccer when he chose to leave dividual passports. Szanto and communist country is hard to
a friend convinced their leader explain. “When I left in 19711
■ngary in 1971.
I Growing up in Hungary they didn’t feel well so they knew I had given up everything
Sere the main sport is soccer, shouldn’t have to attend a ban I had; the place I was bom, the
place I had grown up,” Szanto
■nto said he began playing quet that night.
When the team left for the said.
because, “That’s what
“When I decided I wasn’t
■ryone was watching, that’s banquet Szanto and his friend
what everyone was doing so I left the hotel and ran all over going back to Hungary I knew
did it too.” Szanto started out town. Neither one speaking there was only two ways: I was
playing at seven years of age, English, they ran all night, only going to like it or I was going to
but because nobody could af to find themselves back in front like it. There was no way back.
It’s something nobody can ex
ford a soccer ball they used roll
press.”
ed pp socks bound in wire.
“When I decided I
“The communist .system
I Hungary had seven teams
wasn’t going back to just doesn’t work,” Szanto said.
caegorized by ages. Szanto
“Since 1917, Hungary has
■igressed from childhood un Hungary I knew there
been trying to operate as a
til he was 18 years when he was only two ways: I
communist country. 1 can tell
was told he would have a was going to like it or 1
you and I’m willing to argue
chance to play in the first was going to like it.
league of the Hungarian Na- There was no way with everybody that they don’t
have anything. They have
tional team. “It saved me from
nothing to show. They don*t
going into the army/’ Szanto back.**
have food, they don’t have
^»ted.
clothes, nothing.”
I The government payed of the hotel 10 hours later.
“If you said you didn’t like APPLAUDING HIS TEAM, Coach Janos Szanto shows his
fori Szanto’s schooling and
Not knowing what to do
placed him in a job where, after Szanto and. a friend entered a the Hungarian president it is appreciation Saturday against University of Oregon as
four years, he became a cer- store and talked to the clerk equal to 15 years in jail,” Szan they defeated them 9 to 0.
tified surgical technician work who became frightened and to added. “I was once in school
where I had to stand up every Szanto said. “I’ll do whatever I them?”
called the police.
ing in a hospital in Budapest.
There have been some at
“That’s what we wanted,” day for one minute to praise can for America. It’s the best titude problems on the Cougar
■ Szanto worked at a
.h4spitai and attended school said Szanto. “The police came our leader, and when he died country in the world for me.”
As a new American citizen team, but Szanto questioned
^Kng the off season from soc and took us to the station. we were ordered not to men
Szanto
went to work in a car why the problems exist. “I think
tion
his
name.
”
cer ‘The team I was playing They found someone who
dealership
working his way up it comes from our team being
“
It
’
s
nothing
but
dictator
onj sponsored everything and spoke Hungarian and when
from lot boy to salesman. “I new,” he said. “They think
many times I didn’t have to go they realized what we wanted ship. Nobody cap leave their
they are so good, they don’t
tolvork for 3 or 4 months and to do, they took us to the em country,” he explained. “To wanted to work in a hospital,
come to practice. They’d have
but
because
of
my
English,
I
leave
it
’
s
got
to
be
government-
they payed me,” Szanto said. bassy They put us in a quaran-
a good game on the weekend
couldn
’
t,
”
said
Szanto.
In
1976
sponsored.
Living,
in
a
com
“About six months of every teen for three or four weeks to
I established my own business and Monday and Tuesday they
year I didn’t even go dose Io check us out, then we obtained munist country is ridiculous. I
don’t show up.”
called Classic Auto.”
the hospital.” Szanto also our release and came to the don’t believe it’s going to be
“They said they were
When Szanto was offered
long
before
something
’
s
going
^■ived “calories” money to United States.” ^
burned out from the weekend
In 1978, Szanto became to have to change over there.” the coaching job at CCC he so I suspended them from a
bu» food because he practiced
“I’m really glad I’m here sold his business to his brother.
twice a day. “That was almost an American citizen and return
“I was searching for some game. When we played against
and
proud to be American
ed
to
Hunaarv
to
visit.
Afraid
of
asl much as mu mo
kind of job that involved soc Mt. Hood we had 3 or 4
cer,” Szanto said. “Finally, a starters who sat out,” he add
friend who knew Jim Roberts, ed-
“If they’re not working
dean of student services at the
College told me they needed together as a team, even if it’s
someone who was able to one player, it’s better to get rid
coach soccer so I took my of them,” Szanto added,,
chance. Incarne out here and
The team has since held a
meeting to resolve the pro
fortunately got the job.”
Since Sjzanto began blems they were facing.
coaching two years ago his “Everything is fine now,” Szan
team’s lost onlÿ , ,one game to said.
which was exhibitioh.\“I believe
“We’re by far the best
this is where my success is,” team in-terms of scoring goals,”
Szanto said.
said Szanto of his state cham
To have
a gpod pions. “In six games we scored
team there’s four very impor 29 goals and gave up 2.’’.That
tant things you need. You have record has since changed to 38
to have a good defense, good goals in seven games. “We
mid-field, good offense and a have very good defense and
good goalie. Soccer is a difficult offense,” Szanto said.
While Szanto would like to
game, it involves a lot of
strategy. Everyone has to work get back into hospital work he
together as a unit,” Szanto knows he’d have to get 3 or 4
years more schooling to catch
said.
Szanto stresses mental at up with what he missed in ten
titude in soccer. “Before a years. “But,” he said, “if I have
game I repeat to my team that a chance to coach, I’ll stay with
they are. good, they are coaching.”
“I appreciate that I have
capable. 4 tell them they have
11 players on their team and had the privilege to coach over
we have 11 players on our here,” Szanto said. “I’m trying
DODGING A BLOW, CCC Soccer player narrowly escapes a hit.
team. Why can’t we beat my best and so fear, so good?’
By Wanda Percival
■he Print
Wednesday, November 4, 1981
Page 7