Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, July 4, 2008 

Kickin' it across the pond

For kids involved in a competitive or elite sports team, there are three maxims that ring true regardless of the sport.

First, their commitment is a year-round endeavour. Second, they are chasing the dream of an Olympic podium or professional contract. Finally, international competition is the ultimate test of their talents and prospects.

And for our own Capital United soccer club, their U-15 boys team is, as you read this, jetting off to San Sebastian in northern Spain to play in the prestigious Donasti Cup against premier teams from France, Spain, Germany, Senegal, and the USA.

For centre midfielder Bezick Evraire (a student at St. Matt’s High School), one of 16 excited boys on the team, it is an opportunity of a lifetime. Like many of his teammates, he has fundraised through barbecues, sought local sponsors and his mom even threw a swank fundraising dinner to raise some serious coin to offset the costs to attend this tournament.

The team will spend a week in San Sebastian for this tournament/soccer festival and according to coach Andreas Noe, become “immersed in the culture that defines the world’s game.” And with respect to dedicated hockey nuts, nothing compares to the world’s passion for fut-ball, as the Brazilians like to call it.

After their week in Spain, they will return to Nantes, France and participate for another week in the FC Nantes development camp. Both the tourney and the ensuing camp will afford Capital United to play the game at a different level.

Young Mr. Evraire notes that he and his teammates will have to contend with the superior technical skill and speed of play of their European opponents. As well, the increased physicality of the international game will require some adjustments. All this pressure and the fact that professional scouts will be on hand to boot (pun intended).

But this will not be the defining difference between Capital United and the competition, it will be “the love of the ball” as Bezick and his coach both describe it. Simply put, the world’s passion for the game is manifest in international players from a very young age and is similar to our kids’ ingrained desire to chase the puck around the rink.

Where Capital United is a bit ahead of other teams may be in their conditioning and ethos. There is a core of this group that has played together since they were five and six years old.

As one of the elite soccer clubs in the east end (seems we have a few), Capital United will also represent our country and be accorded the international respect that comes with Canadian citizenship.

This could be the best of both worlds for these young men, a cherished sporting and cultural experience abroad combined with an enhanced appreciation for Canada.

Best of success, safe travels, go FC Capital United.