Little-known Copa Vila futbol tournament creates big excitement
28 May, 2008 By: Ron Hall Athletic Turf NewsMIAMI, FL -- In the United States the sport is known as soccer. The rest of the world, including the sport-loving Mexican and Central American landscape workers landscape workers at Vila & Son, refer to it as futbol.
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Vila & Son, one of the premier landscape companies in Florida, builds excitement, competition and keeps morale high among its various branches and locations with one of the most unusual annual "futbol" tournaments in the world: the Copa Vila.
One Saturday each month from January to May the company busses in teams, composed almost exclusively of its Spanish-speaking workers, from its branches in Orlando (La Maquina Celeste), Miami (Blue Tigers), West Palm Beach (Coyotes) and Ft. Myers (Atletico Barcelona). That's where they meet up with Los Reales, the team composed of corporate and nursery workers, and compete on a specially prepared pitch at the home of Vila & Son CEO Juan Carlos Vila, located in the verdant, agricultural region just southwest of the city. The five teams of landscape and nursery workers match futbol skills in a 5-month-long round-robin tournament at the site.
While the play is friendly, it's spirited, says CEO Juan Vila. These are not your neighborhood pickup-type matchups. Each team has its share of excellent athletes, says Vila, and the level of play is often exceptional. This (and the lure of good food and the prospect of hooking up with friends) brings about 150 family members, past employees and prospects to witness each contest.
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The company provides transportation and uniforms for the players. The Vila family and staff at corporate prepare and serve food and soft drinks to the competitors, spectators and guests.
Once the dust clears, the tournament championship team (this year the Coyotes from West Palm Beach team, its first ever crown) take the Copa Vila back to its location until a new king is crowned next May.
"My family and I are honored to share our home with our employees. We consider them family, and family is always welcomed," says Juan Carlos Vila.
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