Silver Knights’ Vittorio Petrera has the right connections in soccer and life

That would be the back room of Cafe Express on Butternut Street in Syracuse, a large social area that also serves as the offices for Petrera’s second, unofficial job.

As a native of the North Side who grew up in North Syracuse, Petrera has a lifetime of connections made as quickly and easily short soccer pass upfield.

Whenever someone on the Silver Knights needs insight of any sort, from where to buy a new set of tires to a good choice for dinner, they zap Petrera’s cellphone.

Petrera knows players on every team on the MISL.

Silver Knights teammate Domenico Vitale, a long-time friend of Petrera, remembers the show of going to the state Fair with Petrera.

Petrera, who played soccer at Bishop Ludden, referees the sport in his spare time, and also does maintenance work for the family’s real estate business.

It’s where Petrera and others of his generation learned respect, that the portal for getting along with everyone is to start by talking to them.

Petrera knows everyone, of course, and can’t make it through one stride across the floor or one paragraph of conversation without someone coming over for greetings.

For Petrera, that place is the soccer field.

But if the time comes when his social club looks like it might close its doors, Petrera, as usual, has a plan.