By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
April 22, 2025-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is mourning the passing of longtime State Adult Soccer President Sal Rapaglia on April 22 at the age of 84.
Born in Sicily, Sal emigrated to the USA at the age of 15. He played with the Palermo Soccer Club (which became the Brooklyn Italians), before moving up the ladder as a coach, and then he was elected as President of the Italian-American Soccer League. He stepped down from that post in 1979 to become President of the Eastern New York State Adult Soccer Association, a position that he held for an incredible 44 years until his passing. He briefly had a two-year term as the group’s General Secretary in the middle of his longtime Presidential tenure.
Under Sal’s direction, the state association developed Offerman Park into the 10-field Verrazano Narrows Complex in Brooklyn. With a new wave of immigrants entering the country, Sal saw to it that Eastern New York welcomed Latino as well as women’s teams and leagues to create a more diverse state association.
Sal somehow also found time to create and be commissioner of the Northeast Super Soccer League after the original North American Soccer League (NASL) folded in 1984.
The Staten Island resident, who served on several US Soccer committees, was honored with the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder’s Award in 2006 and US Soccer Life Membership, the equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2024. He was also a member of the Eastern New York Hall of Fame.
His last public appearance was last summer at the Sal Rapaglia Cup, named in his honor, on Randall’s Island.
FUNERAL DETAILS
Visitation:
Thursday, April 24 from 5-9 pm & Friday, April 25 from 2-5 pm and 6-9 pm
Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home,
7447 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307.
Mass:
Saturday, April 26, 10:30 am
Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church
7396 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307
Entombment follows:
Resurrection Cemetery
361 Sharrott Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10309.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 10 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 Children With Special Needs. 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. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/