RICHARDSON, Texas — What’s the secret to a long and healthy life? Certainly, not pizza and beer.
“Who gives a s***,” laughed 78-year-old John Fina, surrounded by friends eating pizza and discussing politics.
Often unfiltered and unhinged, Fina and a few dozen other senior citizens get together every week, not for politics or pizza, but for play. Twice a week, for two hours, the group of seniors takes the field at the Soccer Spectrum in Richardson. They call it "Silver Soccer." It started when Fina, who grew up playing in Italy, could no longer keep up with the youngsters but also couldn’t find any options for the oldsters.
“I said, ‘Well, let me see if they’ll let us come here and play in the morning’,” Fina said.
Fina reached out to the owners of the Soccer Spectrum to see if they could carve out time for old men to play. That was 12 years ago, and they’re still kicking and screaming. Every player is over the age of 60. Dario Sifuentes is the oldest at 91, who told WFAA he’ll play as long as possible.
“Until I can’t stand,” Sifuentes said. “Which is basically what I do here.”
Just being able to stand there is impressive to Sifuentes’ granddaughter, Nicole.
“Yeah, this is a lot more action than I was expecting,” Nicole laughed.
“That’s because some of them used to be professionals,” said another woman watching.
Seventy-four-year-old Zequinha played with Pele on the Brazilian national team and had the assist for the final goal of Pele’s international career. Freddy Garcia played against Pele on the Dallas Tornado, the city’s first major professional soccer team.
There are at least five dozen more players who’ve loved the game since childhood. So many, they’ve actually had to turn people away.
“Somebody has to die to make space for somebody else,” 70-year-old Ciro Martinez laughed. “And we don’t die because we’re healthy.”
Soccer, though, is just the start of their social soiree. After every game, they gather in the corner, where they celebrate birthdays with pizza, cake, and bread. For some reason, Fina gives everyone a loaf of bread for their birthday.
“Why the bread,” Fina said. “I don’t know why.”
Oftentimes, they’ll stay for hours.
“One time, a long time ago, a guy stayed here till 6 o’clock,” Fina said. “He was sleeping in his car. He drank too much.”
It helps that most are retired, but none can quit this game.
“I come here more often than I go to church,” Zequinha said.
“It’s my therapy,” said 86-year-old Armin Gonzalez.
“This is life,” Sifuentes added.
It’s also saved a life. A few years ago, Fina suffered a heart attack on the field. Another player performed CPR and kept Fina alive long enough for paramedics to arrive and take him to the hospital. Pretty much every player says it’s that kind of care and friendship that brings them back.
“I get up in the morning on Tuesday and Friday just to come and spend time with them,” Martinez said.
Notice, Martinez didn’t say he wakes up to play soccer. He said he wakes up to spend time with them. It’s a sentiment shared by everyone.
“This is a brotherhood,” Sifuentes said.
“I love them all,” Fina added.
“The love, the friendship, the understanding,” Gonzalez said.
“They’re like family,” Zequinha said. “We need each other.”
And that’s all you need to live a long and healthy life. That and maybe a beer.
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