Lunches in Seattle: When the Men’s Seattle U Soccer Team Came Over
ArticleAug 31, 2022
There is nothing that energizes me more than the energy of youth and sport. In a bid to show my support for both, I’ve embarked on a series of luncheons to be hosted at my home in Seattle.
The first team I hosted was the Men’s Seattle University Soccer Team. It was a sunny (pun intended) afternoon, and we had a whale of a time. We had about 40 guests in all, including the players, their Head Coach Pete Fewing, Associate Head Coach Nate Daligcon, and Player Development Coordinator Vince Volpe. My resident chef curated a special menu keeping in mind the nutritional needs of athletes, including Washington State Gelato in assorted flavors — the UW Men’s Soccer Club or the Huskies are the Redhawks’ long-time rivals.
It was a pleasure to interact with the young men and know about their backgrounds and dreams. I shared my own story of entrepreneurship including how I left three jobs before finding my track — far removed from sports, but a journey of dreams, growth, and failures, just like any other. I reminded the kids of their potential and inspired them to develop healthy habits. I also told them to find their focus and go after their passion, for if you pursue your passion, money and success will come.
The coaches shared with me their plans for the team. Coach Pete, who returned in 2012 for a second stint at Seattle U, has run the school’s most successful program since returning to Division I 10 years ago. In 2020, the Seattle U men’s soccer team was ranked #18 of the Top 25 NCAA teams of the past five years.
I shared with them my dream of empowering everyone in the world, especially kids, with Wholistic Wellbeing. My social initiative, RoundGlass Sports, is working in this direction by scouting for talent, providing them with world-class training and infrastructure at an Academy, and helping develop their physical wellbeing and talent so they can play at a professional level. We also own the RoundGlass Punjab Football Club that plays in the Hero I-League and is the sole representative of the state in top-level professional football in India.
