Greek community poised for World Cup excitement

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/05/2010 (5932 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Famous for its oversized burgers, generous amounts of chips ’n chili, and its  hearty breakfasts, The Red Top restaurant in St. Boniface needs no introduction — and one of its founding late owners, John Scouras needed no introduction in the Winnipeg soccer community,  either.

“That was my dad,” says Peter Scouras, The Red Top’s general manager. “He enjoyed talking to everyone. He made a lot of friends here in the community. That’s why there are pictures and trophies all over the restaurant — that’s from all the teams he sponsored over the years.”

The elder Scouras was born in Greece and moved to Winnipeg in 1954, when he was 14. Just seven years later, he joined his older brother Gus in the restaurant business.

“That seemed to be the thing to do at the time,” says 26-year-old Peter. “If you were Greek, you opened a restaurant. It was all about making a living and providing for your family.”

Aside from his wife Vicky and their three children, John’s passion was soccer. In 1961, he helped found Hellas S.C. (which were under the name Olympians at the time), a Greek community team in Manitoba’s senior men’s soccer league.

He eventually entered the political side of soccer, serving as president of the Manitoba Soccer Association until he passed away in 2007. In 2009, Hellas won the national men’s soccer championship.

Next month in South Africa, Greece makes its return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence — it last appeared in 1994, when the United States hosted the event.

Despite the fact this is just Greece’s second time at the World Cup, Peter Scouras thinks the 2004 European champions could have a good run.

“I like our chances of coming out of our group,” the Linden Woods resident says matter-of-factly. “I think there’s a good balance of competition, and you never really know what could happen.”

He remembers the local celebrations after Greece won the European championship and says such excitement is long overdue at the World Cup level.

Indeed, you could say the Greeks are hungry for their first taste of World Cup success.

Winnipeg’s World Cup is a  look at the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament through the eyes of Winnipeggers from the participating countries. Winnipeg’s Greek community will be gathering in many places to watch their team’s games, most notably at the Manitoba Hellenic Cultural Centre, 2255 Grant Ave.

BY Joel Marcoux