A bond between father and son is strong. A bond that includes the beautiful game is even stronger. Whether you are talking about Slavko Kljestan placing a ball in the crib of sons Gordon and Sacha or a local father sharing his love of the game with his teenage son, the story is one that needs to be told.
North Canton’s Pete and Tyler Walters are a special pair, a father and son that give it their all in all things soccer. Tyler, a promising freshman goalkeeper at St.Vincent-St. Mary’s High School in Akron (OH), spends countless hours every week honing his skills on the pitch. At his side is his father, who does anything and everything to help his son get to the next level, collegiate soccer.
“He has always been there for me,” Tyler stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “He supports me in everything I do. He says he’s my biggest fan.”
Pete started playing when he was 7. He stopped playing when he was 12 when his interest turned to baseball and hockey, two popular sports in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Pete returned to the beautiful game when his young son showed great talent at the sport at a young age.
“I was thrilled for him and supported him,” Pete added. “I told him that anything we do, we are going to do 110%.”
This rekindled Pete’s love for soccer and turned him into a student of the game: watching, reading, and focusing on all aspects of the sport. As an adult, he had a greater appreciation for the game and turned his focus to tactics and formations and the next obvious step, coaching.
Within 3 years, Pete created his own premier youth club with 5 teams and 86 players. He shared his love of Arsenal with his players and their parents. Arsenal was a great example of doing things right, possessing the ball and always playing forward. Pete and Tyler share a love for Thierry Henry with Tyler often wearing #14 in honor of the current NYRB striker.
Pete shared his support for Robin Van Persie, but was quick to point out his disappointment on Samir Nasri’s move to Manchester City. “With him chasing the dollars, I watch him but no longer support him the way I did. His skill, talent, and vision are unbelievable.”
Living in NE Ohio makes Pete and Tyler natural fans of the University of Akron men’s soccer program and Caleb Porter. Porter plays an attractive style of attacking soccer, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
“He just oozes that level of commitment long-term,” Pete continued. “It’s not just wanting to win this week or this season. He’s laying the foundation that will be in place for some time.”
It is clear that this father and son combination exemplify all that is good about the game: bringing people together, working hard, and sharing a common bond. It is our pleasure to have Tyler and Pete Walters as the first Pelé Sports Fan Ambassadors of 2012.
Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.
Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told.
Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.
International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.
