By Christine Hamelin
with photography by Ian MacAlpine
“Soccer is my world,” says Victor Mendes, who has been coaching the RMC Paladins men’s team for 26 years. “If I’m away from the field, that’s a problem for me.” A driven, storytelling, lovable man who calls a spade a spade, Vic has coached more than 500 young people in his career, leaving a lasting legacy.
He was born in Portugal, but his parents, Jose and Laura, immigrated to Canada in 1972, when Vic was two. Both parents came from large families, and several siblings also relocated to Canada. “We’d go back to Portugal every year or two. It’s a beautiful country. I have endless family over there on both sides — I have 52 first cousins!” The family still owns property in Portugal. Vic’s younger brother, Emmanuel, and his family live in Kingston, as do several cousins, aunts and uncles.
Jose, who came to Canada with $100 in his pocket, “was the hardest-working human being I ever knew,” Vic says. He ran a successful drywall business for over 45 years, employing up to a dozen people, and Laura worked as his secretary for many years. “They gave us everything and always supported us.
“Both my parents and my entire family are huge soccer fans,” Vic goes on. “My father founded the Benfica Soccer Club in 1977.” Vic started playing when he was about seven. . . .
