Kelownasa国际传媒檚 soccer scene is about to make a resurgence.
After its inaugural year in Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Mensa国际传媒檚 League, the Okanagan Football Club is almost set to bring an even more competitive level of soccer back to Kelowna competing in the Pacific Coast Soccer League in 2019.
The PCSL is a competitive eight-team inter-city league that will allow Kelownasa国际传媒檚 best players to continue playing local and competitive soccer past 18 and 19 years old.
Itsa国际传媒檚 about competitiveness but also about creating a culture, said Okanagan FC coach Andrew Stevenson.
sa国际传媒淲e want to provide an avenue for our young players to play a senior level, and to continue to play towards their soccer aspirations,sa国际传媒� said Stevenson. sa国际传媒淜elowna and the Okanagan have been missing a competitive team for a long time, and we want to build a successful team that engages the soccer community, and build something special.sa国际传媒�
Despite the local recreation leagues in Kelowna, or the possibility of university soccer, Stevenson notes that itsa国际传媒檚 tough for players passing the age of 18 to find competitive leagues in the Okanagan.
The PCSL is exactly thatsa国际传媒� a competitive league where players who may not have anywhere to go can play through some of their adult years, playing teams in cities like Kamloops, Vancouver, and Victoria.
Okanagan FC will join the PCSL when the season starts in early May, and invites players off all ages to the in early March.
sa国际传媒淭he feedback has been very well received. I think that Kelowna has a hot-bed of soccer talent, and we want to bring in the best,sa国际传媒� said Stevenson.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e expecting around 70 players at the upcoming try-outs, ranging in ages from 17 to 40.sa国际传媒�
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When the season starts, the Kelowna Rocketssa国际传媒� season will have ended, and the Okanagan Sunsa国际传媒檚 season will be months away still.
Stevenson and the Okanagan FC want to fill that perfect time in summer to provide a quality level of soccer for players, and for fans.
Stevenson notes that there has been some difficulties with starting a new soccer club among the established Kelowna sporting favourites.
sa国际传媒淕etting the name out there has been hard, and finding volunteers,sa国际传媒� said Stevenson, who remains unfazed by these challenges.
sa国际传媒淲ith any new program, there are going to be speed-bumps. We want to get people excited and we want to create an atmosphere, and events to people can get excited for.sa国际传媒�
The atmosphere for the Okanagan FCsa国际传媒檚 upcoming season will be hosted at Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Apple Bowl, where the last Kelowna team to play in the PCSL, the Okanagan Challenge, used to draw in around 1,000 fans for games before the teamsa国际传媒檚 end in 2011.
With a sponsorship with Sleemansa国际传媒檚 to provide beverages at the games, local DJ artists, and community events on game days, Okanagan FC strives to be the go-to place during the summer with $10 tickets for adults, and kids under 18 getting free admission.
sa国际传媒淎t the Apple Bowl, with great music and beer available, itsa国际传媒檚 going to cost less than a movie, and less than a hockey or football game for fans and families,sa国际传媒� said Stevenson.
Stevenson feels the excitement level continues to build as families already involved with the club are excited with the opportunities Okanagan FC will provide down the line for the younger players looking to play local soccer after youth programs.
Okanagan FC will also assemble a womensa国际传媒檚 team to compete in the PCSL womensa国际传媒檚 league in 2020.
Providing a competitive league for Okanagan players is the first step for Okanagan FC, and make no mistakesa国际传媒攖heysa国际传媒檙e looking to win, Stevenson said.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e looking to get our hands on the trophy. The top players are going to have to earn their spots, and we want to build a team without any obstacles and make it accessible as possible for all prospective players,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淕uys will have to commit to the team and vision to help this team come together.sa国际传媒�
Players looking for more information can find it at okanaganfc.com.
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