It deeply saddens me once again that yet another longtime dedicated volunteer has been removed without any due process, yet again, by the board members of the Glen Cove Jr. Soccer League.

Back in 2004 when I was involved with GCJSL I single-handedly started a pre-travel soccer program for the club. It was nearly impossible to recruit parents to take on the huge responsibility of coaching a youth travel team. I recall how parents would literally run and hide when I would approach to ask them if they wanted to help with the new travel teams I was forming. Eventually great parents came forward and decided to help with the program. We were able to form three U-10 new travel teams and four pre-travel teams in two years. Silvio Testa was selected at the time as coach of the girls U-7 team. The soccer board was thrilled to have Silvio on board because of the fact that he had already coached a travel team with his son Brian and had been an active member for many years. I was thrilled to have Silvio as one of my coaches. Not only was he a longtime Glen Cove resident, but an excellent soccer player as well. At the time it was very important to me to start to get soccer people to coach in Glen Cove.

For the last three years Silvio Testa, as the head coach of the Rising Stars, has dedicated and has put in the time and effort that most travel coaches do not. He has brought his team to numerous tournaments both indoor and out and has always strived to make his team compete at every level. I have also noticed that Silvio has put notices in this newspaper announcing open tryouts for his team on more than one occasion. This only proves to me that he had only the best intentions to try to keep the team going through the fall season.

Unfortunately, this was not enough and a few weeks ago on a bleacher at City Stadium during a baseball game, Silvio Testa was informed that he was no longer the head coach of the team. After so many years of helping the club and loyal service it was all over in a matter of seconds.

Even though Silvio feels very hurt about this whole matter, I know he will bounce back and continue to either coach or be involved with soccer for many years to come. I would like to wish him luck, and would also like to wish good luck to the new head coach of the Stars. I just hope that in two years she is not writing the same letter as her predecessor.

Michael Ferricchio