Sanneh Foundation’s Gala 4 Goals a Huge Success

The first annual Gala 4 Goals was a huge success with nearly 650 in attendance at the TCF Bank Stadium DQ room.

The evening started early with a question and answer time with U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley. There was plenty of time to socialize afterwords with two bars and appetizers throughout the evening. Those in attendance could also make bids on silent auction items. They ranged from weekend resort stays to autographed balls and jerseys from many U.S. National Team and MLS players.

The program consisted of awards and a talk by Bradley himself.

First, former US National Team player Cobi Jones, who still holds the record for most caps by a U.S. player with 164, took to the podium. Jones handed out the Sanneh Foundation Leadership awards which were given to two incredibly talented and devoted high school soccer players. Devoted not just to soccer but to being leaders and good people by being involved in many types of community service.

Those awards were give to Patrick Sheedy from Marshall High School and Gitchi Gummi Soccer club and Haley Erickson from Orono High School and Wayzata Soccer Club.

Next Lifetime Achievement awards were handed out to Buzz Lagos and Tony Peszneker.

“I never knew Tony Peszneker  as a coach but only as a teammate and a friend. He taught me more than anyone else did in how to be pro, the ultimate professional soccer player,” said Sanneh in introducing Peszneker.

Sanneh also introduced Lagos saying, “Buzz, I can’t say enough about you. You were like a second father to me. I feel a bit guilty giving this award to him because your lovely wife Sarah Lagos shared in raising me too. But Buzz, you’ve touched so many lives, including mine. You’ve been a rock to soccer in Minnesota.”

There was also a Delores Houle (Tony’s mother) Soccer Mom Scholarship award handed out by Tony Sanneh’s mother and her sisters. The award was handed out to a soccer mom who is devoted to providing the best for her kids and who understands the value that soccer brings to the development of a well-rounded young adult. That award was given out so a mother could send her children to a Sanneh soccer camp.

The last speaker of the night was U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley. “Not only has Bob Bradley been a coach to me but he’s been a mentor,” said Sanneh in his introduction. “The best thing Bob has ever told me was, “Tony, be yourself.” Everyone knew I was fast so people would tell me, do this or dribble around that guy. Bob sat me down one day and said, “Tony, you’re good because you do what you’re good at. Just be yourself and you’ll have good results.”

“That simplified everything for me. Bob’s a great man. He’s not only a good soccer coach, he’s a good role model.”

Bob Bradley took the podium as the special guest of the night. “It’s a great honor for me to be here tonight,” said Bradley. “Because the passion here tonight for the game of soccer, the passion for giving something back is really special. I get to travel around and see this on occasion, but I think you should all be very proud.”

Bradley told the group he was asked to talk about team building. Bradley said, “The real team building talk tonight is about what’s going on inside this room. It’s a credit to Tony and it’s a credit to all of you who have been involved in Minnesota soccer, that not only have you been on the field together but you share a bigger vision. So for me it’s incredibly nice to be here and to be part of this. I congratulate Tony for all his work and for all the people that work in the foundation. I really appreciate being part of this team tonight and seeing all the great things that are going on here.”

Also helping out with the evening was Tony’s friend and U.S. Men’s National Team press officer Michael Kammarman. Kammarman can often be seen on US Soccer’s Studio 90 broadcasts.

Socializing continued through the evening with music by DJ Jake Rudh.

Although the evening was a fund raiser for a very good cause, it felt much more like a celebration of soccer in Minnesota, with people from many different facets of the game gathering for a night to find joy in the sport we all love.

Tony Sanneh had a gift on the field that allowed him to be a big game player in several MLS Cup games for DC United, in Germany for Hertha Berlin and FC Nuremberg and for the U.S. National team in World Cup 2002. But Tony’s greatest accomplishments might still be on the horizon. His work with the many facets of the Sanneh foundation is impressive and his ability to bring together the varied soccer interests in Minnesota is nothing short of remarkable.

Photos by Jeremy Olson of Digital Gopher.com and by Brian Quarstad