VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL’S SUCCESS ON THE SOCCER FIELD IS IMPRESSIVE. BUT WHAT’S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE? THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN PULLING THE STRINGS. SHANNON EARHART WENT OVER TO VALLEY TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES THE BOYS SOCCER TEAM SO GOOD FOR ALL THESE YEARS. THAT’S TONIGHT’S SUNDAY SPORTS EXTRA. I LIKE IT. I LIKE IT EVERY YEAR I TELL THESE BOYS I’M LEAVING, YOU KNOW, AND I’M TIRED. BUT I JUST IN LOVE WITH THE BOYS. I LOVE THESE GUYS. SO WE STUCK AROUND. OKAY? WE DID THE MATH, AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE 30 YEARS, ACTUALLY, AZIZ ZAFAR IS IN HIS 34TH SEASON COACHING VALLEY BOYS SOCCER. I WAS 31. HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? 65. I’M 65. NOW. HE’S LIKE A FATHER, LIKE A GRANDFATHER. SO IS IT FATHER OR GRANDFATHER? DEFINITELY GRANDFATHER. I SAW A PICTURE OF HIM HOLDING ONE OF MY CLASSMATES WHEN SHE WAS ONE YEARS OLD. SO IT REALLY JUST MADE ME THINK OF, LIKE, HOW LONG HE’S BEEN HERE IN THREE AND A HALF DECADES. AZIZ IS A FIVE TIME STATE CHAMPION, TIED FOR SECOND ALL TIME AND A 22 TIME STATE QUALIFIER, THE MOST TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES EVER REALLY HAVE A WINNING CULTURE HERE, SO IT’S REALLY JUST FEEL LIKE PRESSURE TO DO YOUR BEST FOR HIM. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED, AZIZ WAS TOLD HE WAS TWO WINS AWAY FROM HIS 600TH VICTORY AT VALLEY. HE TELLS ME HE HAD NO IDEA THAT WAS THE CASE. SO WHEN VALLEY BEAT ANKENY RIGHT HERE LAST WEEK, HE DECIDED NOT TO TELL HIS PLAYERS EITHER. WE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS GOING TO GET HIS 600 WIN UNTIL THE END OF THE GAME, WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED IT, AND WE ALL JUST RAN UP TO HIM AND THREW HIM UP IN THE AIR, AND WE ALL CARRIED HIM, PICKED HIM UP. AND I BET YOU FOR THE FIRST FIVE SECONDS OR SO HE LIKED IT, BUT AFTER THAT HE WAS PROBABLY LIKE, GET ME DOWN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WINNING 600 IS VERY HUMBLING FOR ME. AND BUT AGAIN, IT’S JUST A NUMBER. REGARDLESS OF SUCCESS, AZIZ ISN’T CHANGING. I’M GOING UP TO HIM. IT’S WITH A HUG. EVERY TIME. JUST THIS LAST GAME, HIS 600TH WIN. I WAS WEARING SOME SOME SHIN GUARDS THAT WERE A LITTLE TOO SMALL, AND ONE OF THEM FELL OFF AND THE REFEREE SAW IT. AND THE NEW RULE IS THAT THE COACH GETS THE YELLOW CARD. OH, AND HE WAS MAD AT ME. AND YESTERDAY I PRACTICED. HE HE GOT A WHOLE BOX OF SHIN GUARDS AND THREW THEM ON THE GROUND AND SAID AND SAID, PICK WHATEVER ONES YOU NEED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU WIN IS GREAT, BUT IT’S NOT EVERYTHING. BUT WHAT REALLY EMOTIONALLY, I WHAT I GET EXCITED WHEN THE BOYS ARE HAPPY AND THAT’S WHAT THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. I GIVE YOU, I GAVE YOU A CHANCE, SHANNON EARHART FOR SUNDAY SPORTS EXTRA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SHANNON. LET’S GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS HERE, GUYS. AZIZ IS AVERAGING JUST UNDER 18 WINS A SEASON OUT OF A MAXIMUM OF 25. THE IHSAA HAS NO STAT FOR ALL TIME WINNINGEST COACH IN IOWA. GOT
Valley soccer coach Aziz Haffar celebrates 600th win
Updated: 6:25 AM CDT Apr 14, 2025
Aziz Haffar, the longtime coach of West Des Moines Valley boys soccer, recently celebrated his 600th win, marking a significant milestone in his 34-year coaching career.In his three and a half decades of coaching, Haffar has become a five-time state champion, tied for second all-time, and a 22-time state qualifier, the most tournament appearances in history."He has experience here winning state. We have a winning culture here. You feel pressure to do your best for him," said Pablo Mendez, a senior on the team."Honest, upfront, stand-up dude. Cares a lot about every single one of his players," said Graham Kenworthy, another senior on the team. Before the season started, Haffar was informed that he was two wins away from his 600th victory at Valley. Haffar said he had no idea. When Valley beat Ankeny last week, he decided to keep the milestone to himself."We didn't know until the end of the game when he announced it. When we found out, we picked him up and threw him in the air," Mendez said. "To be honest, winning 600 is very humbling. So humbled to be able to stay at Valley," Haffar said. Haffar isn't afraid to express his feelings. "To be honest, winning is great, but it's not everything. Emotionally, I get excited when the boys are happy, and this is what it's all about," he said.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Aziz Haffar, the longtime coach of West Des Moines Valley boys soccer, recently celebrated his 600th win, marking a significant milestone in his 34-year coaching career.
In his three and a half decades of coaching, Haffar has become a five-time state champion, tied for second all-time, and a 22-time state qualifier, the most tournament appearances in history.
"He has experience here winning state. We have a winning culture here. You feel pressure to do your best for him," said Pablo Mendez, a senior on the team.
"Honest, upfront, stand-up dude. Cares a lot about every single one of his players," said Graham Kenworthy, another senior on the team.
Before the season started, Haffar was informed that he was two wins away from his 600th victory at Valley. Haffar said he had no idea. When Valley beat Ankeny last week, he decided to keep the milestone to himself.
"We didn't know until the end of the game when he announced it. When we found out, we picked him up and threw him in the air," Mendez said.
"To be honest, winning 600 is very humbling. So humbled to be able to stay at Valley," Haffar said.
Haffar isn't afraid to express his feelings. "To be honest, winning is great, but it's not everything. Emotionally, I get excited when the boys are happy, and this is what it's all about," he said.
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