By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

November 9, 2011-The penalty kick shootout of the Women’s World Cup Final is not the only thing that the United States has lost to Japanese soccer as longtime Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) coach Kenichi “Kenny” Yatsuhashi is returning to his native county.

The current Brooklyn resident came to New York in December 1988 and established himself as a very popular coach much more concerned with his players and their development than actual wins and losses. Youth teams that he coached included the Elmont Ravens girls team in the Long Island Junior Soccer League, the Brooklyn Patriots boys team in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League plus the Gotham Girls Chargers of the Westchester Youth Soccer League and ENYYSA Premier League. He also served as a referee.

Before coaching the junior college ASA men during the past two years, Kenny coached both the men’s and women’s teams of the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). During his stellar career at BMCC, his men’s teams won six conference championships, a Region XV Championship and a District Championship. In 2005, Coach Yatsuhashi guided BMCC to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament, finishing as the third-best team in the country. That same year, he was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Coach of the Year by his peers. Coach Yatsuhashi has also had the honor of coaching the City University of New York (CUNY) Athletic Conference All-Star team, which competed in the Goodwill South African Tour. On top of winning championships, his teams have been chosen for two Region XV Sportsmanship awards and two additional Sportsmanship Awards as voted by the referees of the New York Metro Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NYMISOA).

Prior to his return to Japan, NYMISOA honored Coach Yatsuhashi by giving him a Certificate of Appreciation for all that he has done to promote soccer and sportsmanship in New York soccer for the past 23 years.

“In the United States, I have found many outstanding soccer people,” Coach Yatsuhashi commented. “This is my most rewarding experience to take it with me wherever I go.”

"If you have played for a team that I coached, thank you!" he added. "I can't say anything else, but I really appreciate time, effort, sweat, sacrifice, joy, disappointment and growth together."
 
With 120,000 youth soccer players and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/