Northeast soccer squad
wins Public League title

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Sam Feldman has been to many playoff games throughout his coaching career and he always walks away with a grin.
For the past two years, the Northeast High School baseball coach walked away after ending the season with a loss in the semifinals, but was still happy to score third place in the Public League A Division.
Last year, the five-year soccer coach walked away with another loss in the semifinals, but was still smiling with a sense of pride for his team.
And last week, after the Vikings’ soccer team won the Philadelphia Public League soccer title for the first time since 1998, Feldman’s smile grew even bigger.
"Winning to me really isn’t everything," said Feldman. "Don’t get me wrong, it’s great. But to me, it’s much more important that I raise good kids and they have fun playing."
His squad seemed to be having the time of their lives on Halloween, when the Vikings defeated Central High School, 2-0, at Northeast’s Charles Martin Memorial Stadium.
"Talent wise, Central and us match up very well," said Feldman. "The talent levels are very similar, coaching philosophies are very similar. The whole thing came down to who showed up."
There was no doubt the Vikings were there to win. Northeast senior Juan Rodriguez scored the first goal within the first 14 minutes of the game, followed by a second goal with 8:24 remaining in the half.
"Rodriguez got fast break and scored a magnificent goal," said Feldman. "The second half they dominated the game, and we kind of sat back and played defense."
The win prolonged a 12-game winning streak for the Vikings, who outscored their opponents 37-8 with nine shutouts this season — definitely a call for celebration.
"It was a fun situation," said Feldman. "They treated the whole victory with class. We came in the locker room and celebrated as group.
"I told my kids this is one of those golden moments," he continued. "One of those things you’ll never forget. From now on those guys will have a common bond. Even thirty years from now they will immediately come together."
Feldman got his own taste of championship victory during his glory days as a player at Upper Darby High School.
In 1971, the squad was crowned co-regional champs. Feldman went on to attend West Chester University, where he continued his soccer skills and earned a teaching degree.
"I think it’s the only way it should be," said Feldman, who has been teaching for 31 years. "To me, a physical education teacher should be someone who has played sports. I think I paid my dues."
Following in both of his parents’ footsteps, Feldman has yearned to become a teacher in the Philadelphia School District almost as long as he’s wanted to coach.
"The after school program is the reason I think I got into physical education in the first place," he said. "You have kids who want to be there and who want to learn. It’s odd, because it’s about ten percent of my pay and ninety percent of my time."
But all the sacrifice and time commitments have definitely paid off for the soccer and baseball mentor.
"About two or three years ago I was standing at the end-of-the-year school fair and I heard a voice behind me saying, ‘See that teacher there? He’s the best teacher I’ve ever had,’" recalled Feldman. "I turned around and it was a student I taught about twenty years ago. You talk about a thrill — that’s a thrill.
"I’ve been there, done that, with winning," he continued. "Winning a championship is fine, it’s great. But I’m more interested in kids becoming good people and enjoying sports." ••