Vergara still has much to give

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This article was published 16/07/2019 (2562 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Héctor Vergara, officiating games beneath the bright lights at the FIFA World Cup, pursuing the beautiful game across the globe, and earning a spot in the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, is as simple as doing what he loves.

This November, Vergara will be inducted into the provincial hall as a builder, part of the 2019 class announced on July 8.

“It’s kind of strange to be honest,” Vergara said. “I feel somewhat embarrassed at times, because I just enjoy the game and doing what I do. When you have fun doing something you keep doing it for those reasons and many other things are byproducts of that.

“I’m very honoured that I’ve been included,” the 52-year-old from Whyte Ridge said. “The biggest thing that I’ve been wrestling with… is how do you put your head around thanking the people you need to thank in less than five minutes.”

For the past 14 years, Vergara has served as the executive director of the Manitoba Soccer Association, but his career in the beautiful game began decades prior, refereeing youth soccer as a teenager.

From that humble start, Vergara has gone on to officiate at the highest levels, building a lengthy resume that includes 150 international matches and 19 years on the International List of FIFA Assistant Referees. Vergara has also been recognized previously with an induction into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, Sports Officials Canada Ron Foxcroft Pro Award, multiple Manitoba Official of the Year awards, and a Canadian Soccer Association International Achievement Award.

“You don’t get involved in sport for the accolades or the recognition that you may get down the road. You get involved because you love sport and enjoy sport overall,” Vergara said.

“Sport has been a part of my life from a very young age, so I have a lot to be grateful for to sport in general because I’ve learned so many life skills.”

Of his many matches, including officiating one game where 70,000 English fans jeered him for disallowing three goals (video replay ultimately proved him correct), Vergara said serving as assistant referee for the 1995 Canada Cup final and standing at attention for the national anthems of Chile — where he was born — and Canada —his home — remains a high point.

“One is your birth country and one is your home nation… and all of a sudden the heart strings are getting torn because both your countries are playing each other.

“Experiences like that are fond memories.”

Vergara, who continues to provide instruction locally and internationally for officials, said there’s still more to be done for the soccer community in Manitoba.

“I’m not yet ready for retirement,” Vergara said. “I think I have a lot to give back to the sport still, and I think there’s a ton of experience I can share with younger officials and administrators.

“I think I have a lot to give, still, to the sport that’s given me so much.”  

Vergara will be inducted to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame alongside Charles Baksh (athlete/cricket), Susanne Dandenault (athlete/athletics/weightlifting), Don Hornby (builder/rowing), Jon Montgomery (athlete/skeleton), Maureen Orchard (builder/basketball/wheelchair basketball), Michelle Stilwell (athlete/wheelchair sport) and the 1987-1988-1989 Brandon University Bobcats basketball teams.