Pan American Games
In the 1950s and 1960s, most players on the U.S. national team were amateurs. This allowed them to play both in full internationals and in the Olympics and Pan American Games which were fully amateur at the time. In 1959, Snylyk was selected for the U.S. soccer team at the 1959 Pan Am Games, held in Chicago. Just as with the Olympic squad, Snylyk was team captain of the U.S. as it captured the bronze medal in these games. On August 29, 1959, the U.S. defeated Brazil 5-3. However, this was also Snylyk’s wedding day. He played the game, then drove, along with his team mates, to the church where he married Yara Matura, a native of Chicago. Following the reception, he went back to the competitors’ compound to sleep.
Snylyk competed in the 1963 Pan Am Games. However, the U.S. was not as successful, finishing last and losing 10-0 to Brazil in the process.
Read more about this topic: Zenon Snylyk
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