A special thrill for coach who beat cancer
Soccer coach Platini Soaf after coaching his team the West Coast FC, under 17 girls, playing in the Surf Cup soccer tournament Saturday in Del Mar. photo by Bill WechterIt was a breezy, gray morning on the first day of Surf Cup 2013. A grassy lot adjacent to the horse parks had been turned into a youth soccer tournament Saturday at the San Diego Polo Club east of Del Mar.
Beyond the chattering players, cheering parents and the thump of a soccer ball hitting bodies, Platini Soaf stood quietly away from his team. The coach showed a sense of calm often found in those who have overcome adversity, breaking his silence only to shout words of encouragement to his players.
In March 2011, Soaf was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia, a rare cancer of the blood. The native of North Africa - who is co-head coach of the West Coast Futbol Club's U-18, U-17 and U-16 girls teams - was forced to relinquish his duties.
"Obviously, I was very scared in many ways," Soaf said. "First thing was a big shock because we don't have cancer on my side of the family."
Soaf, 45, was bedridden for three months while receiving treatment. He was not allowed physical contact with his players. Yet that didn't stop 62 of his athletes and their families from providing dinner for Soaf and his family for 62 consecutive nights.
"To this day, I can't believe it," Soaf said. "I still go through those emails, people saying, 'We're the ones bringing you dinner today. Please make sure your wife doesn't buy anything.' I don't know how I can pay that back."
After months of short-term, high-dose chemotherapy, Soaf was able to return to coaching when his cancer went into remission in July 2011.
"I think cancer was, in a way, the best thing that happened to me," Soaf said. "It made me realize that I'm lucky to be here. I'm lucky to be alive."
Soaf's coaching résumé includes stints with the San Diego Surf, the Mexico women's national team, UCLA and the Olympic Development Program, as well as his current role with the West Coast Futbol Club in Orange County.
Participating in his second Surf Cup since remission, Soaf guided the WCFC's U-17 team to a 3-0 opening win Saturday over Norcross Fury Premier of Georgia.
WCFC forward Hailey Hite heaped praise on Soaf.
"He's very constructive. He doesn't just yell at you. He'll actually help you with how to improve," Hite said. "He's funny, too."
Following his illness, Soaf was searching for a way to give back. He and four others created the Kick-It Away Platini Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance to soccer coaches who are diagnosed with cancer but don't have insurance.
One of the people who helped form the foundation is Torrey Pines High graduate Rachel Buehler, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women's soccer team. Soaf served as coach and mentor to Buehler throughout her youth.
"It was such a great idea," Buehler said. "Knowing how he felt and the support that he got and being able to do that for other people in a similar situation just made me want to be part of that."
Soaf's teams will continue play in the Surf Cup today. Semifinal and championship matches are scheduled for Monday.
Jason Cowan is a U-T San Diego intern.