The CEO of BC Transit has gotten into hot water in another part of his life – as a youth soccer coach.
Manuel Achadinha has been suspended from coaching and is not allowed to attend any games for a year. The suspension comes after things got physical between him and a 16-year old referee a couple weeks ago.
"We didn't think the coach came out to create any sort of assault per se," said Vancouver Island Soccer League president Vince Greco when he spoke with C-FAX 1070's Mark Brennae about the disciplinary committee decision. "He was demonstrating what he thought... should have been called as a foul. In that demonstration he made contact with the youth official and... at that point he was asked to back off and was removed from the game, even though it was post-game."
This incident happened during a Lakehill Soccer Association under 14 game at Lochside Turf.
Greco says Achadinha plays an important part in local youth soccer as a coach for several teams. He thinks he simply made a mistake.