The Accent’s on Soccer : Amateur League Attracts Multinational Teams to Pierce College

Every Sunday afternoon, a bunch of frenetic guys with accents invade Pierce College.

For every, “How’s it going, dude,” passers-by are as likely to hear, “ Que pasa , amigo ,” or “G’day, mate.”

But the international assemblage has no problem with the language barrier--most of the communication is done with feet.

Pierce is the site of weekly competition staged by the Budweiser International Soccer League, an organization that includes players from several continents and varied backgrounds.

The Island Exiles, one of the league’s 10 members, feature several Valley players by way of Scotland, Ireland, England, Colombia and Iran. Other teams are composed of players from Central America, and another squad consists almost solely of Danish players.

“They really mean it when they call it the International League,” said Lionel Conway, the Exile manager.

Conway proudly boasts about the level of play in the league and says the Exiles have eight current or former professional players on their roster. But nobody gets a salary for playing in this league.

The majority support themselves in more conventional ways. There are a few exceptional exceptions.

“Let’s see,” Conway said. “We have limo drivers, waiters, an antique restorer, a film producer, a bank manager, a translator--he comes in handy--and, of course, a rock star.”

The rock star is Rod Stewart, who often plays with the team. Stewart is Scottish, and like most of the expatriates, started playing in his own country as a youth. Despite the move to the United States, the sport remains in their blood, Conway explained.

“Kids in England and other places want to play soccer,” Conway said. “I can remember my father taking me to matches when I was 3 years old. You are born into it.

“You have to love it--we play at 1 p.m., when it’s about 100 degrees outside.”

The teams pride themselves on the level of play. When the Exiles played the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League in an exhibition match a few weeks ago, they lost, 2-1.

“I think we are one of the premier teams in the area,” Conway said. “This league is very strong and very competitive.”

The Exiles are in third place behind the Local Boys--a team that includes Cal State Northridge goalkeeper Mike Caputo and forward Rodney Batt--and the Cosmics. The Danish Dynamite is in fourth.

The league is worth watching from close range, Conway says.

“I guarantee if kids like to see good competition, they’ll see a very good soccer match if they come out to watch our league,” Conway said.