RICHLAND TOWNSHIP — After retiring as the Conemaugh Township head soccer coach, Sam Zambanini will serve as an assistant for the South at the 49th annual Ken Lantzy “Finest 40” All-Star Classic on Friday, marking one of his final profession games as a educate.
Zambanini stepped down after 22 years as head educate following the Indians’ very last sport in 2018, a loss to Shade at Windber Stadium.
He compiled a 119-108 record in tenures as educate. After going 2-sixteen in 1987-88, the Indians went 117-ninety two from 1999 to 2018.
Conemaugh Township additionally won 3 District 5 titles for the duration of his second run.
“I’ll for all time recognize the possibility that Township gave me,” Zambanini stated. “We got splendid children and a solid tradition, which was there long earlier than me. I performed there as nicely, and it’s continually excellent to coach at your alma mater.
“I don’t think we did something to tarnish the recognition,” he added with amusing. “Now they’re turning the reigns over to Tony Penna and I’m positive he’ll do an exceptional activity to hold the culture rolling.”
Going into this week, Zambanini is thankful that Fyfe added him as an assistant at the South group of workers, and enjoyed his time being across the crew because the squad concluded its week of practice on Wednesday.
Ahead of Friday’s game, Zambanini said that there are probably a few emotional elements going into the contest, understanding it is probably considered one of, if not the last, video games of his soccer coaching career.
“This has been a fun week,” Zambanini said. “Friday night might deliver a few adrenaline returned to me. The game is gonna get the juices flowing and emotions going. Just being accessible with first-rate gamers is tremendous. When you get together with coaches and tell testimonies within the dorms, that’s numerous fun, too.”
Zambanini will educate three of his former players in Friday’s sport — Jordan Poznanski, Cory Myers and Logan Walerysiak.
Poznanski will lineup at defensive back, at the same time as Myers may be inside the offensive backfield and Walerysiak will serve as the South’s kicker.
“It means lots so as to play for (Zambanini) one final time,” Poznanski said. “We’ve been together for 4 years through the u.S.A.And downs. Just to have him as a educate for my final recreation manner plenty.
“He’s made a huge impact on me. Not simply in football, but existence in the standard. We’ve had a good week of practice and we’re going to get after it collectively one last time.”
After Friday’s game, even though, it may not be the cease of Zambanini’s soccer education profession. He has committed to joining Penna’s body of workers as an assistant for next season.
“(Penna) asked me to stay around at the body of workers and I agreed to do that,” Zambanini stated. “But we’ll see how long it goes. I nonetheless was given some extra years to train yet, so not anything is for sure yet. We’re excited and we’re looking forward to getting to paintings in the meantime.”
Though Zambanini has committed to assisting Penna on his body of workers for next season, he is centered on coaching a solid recreation on Friday for his crew.
“It’s a laugh to train in an All-Star atmosphere, whether it’s your guys or any players,” he stated. “It’s nice to be a part of every person’s remaining little taste of excessive school and excessive school football. After Friday, actual lifestyles begins for those guys, and accept as true with me, it comes rapidly.”
