Challenger Sports holds annual soccer camp at Rotary Park

The most popular soccer program in North America was in Whitecourt from August 14 to 18 at Rotary Park. Challenger Sports has been conducting a summer camp locally for years giving area children the opportunity to hone their skills.

Christopher Barnett, 19, is in his second year with Challenger Sports and spent last summer in the United States as he toured around to different communities teaching soccer. Joining him for coaching duties in Canada this year is Alessan Vrominchella, 24, from Italy, who is in his first summer with the club.

“We go from place to place each week and we run a five-day camp. Players can sign up for different things for either three or six hours a day. Children four or five years old can play an hour and a half a day. We coach them and show them little bits to learn. We show them the core skills and as they get older we show them more advanced stuff,” explained Christopher.

Both gentlemen have been trekking across the country, bouncing along the map, as they brought Challenger’s love of soccer to children throughout Canada. They have already been in communities around Toronto, Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. “We’ve been in Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Dawson Creek, Cold Lake, Slave Lake, and now here,” said Alessan, adding, “It’s a fantastic experience.”

Not only did Alessan and Christopher enjoy their time with the children of Whitecourt and their parents, but they also enjoyed being at Rotary Park. When asked if they had seen a park similar in their travels, Christopher was blunt. “Not as good as this one!”  Alessan chimed in as well saying that Rotary is “the best park I have seen here (in Canada).”

The only negative aspect during their time in Whitecourt was a pesky little critter that everyone loves to smack. “It’s an awesome community but there are so many mosquitoes,” said Christopher with a laugh. “We got here on Monday and I was covered from head to toe.”

The children spent five days with Christopher who said, “They’ve been a really good group and are doing everything well.” Alessan agreed saying, “They are very good.  They are nice, polite, and quiet when they need to be quiet. I think they are also improving a lot. They are playing better than the first day and that’s what we want.”

They also commented that they are proud of the children for working hard and growing their abilities. “We did some scrimmages today and they are 10 times better than when we started. It’s a sense of achievement and it’s very nice to see them improve and to know that it’s because of you, because you’re the one that showed them that.”

For more information on Challenger Sports and the programs they run, visit www.challengersports.com.