Eight Sliammon Junior Braves’ players and their coach have been selected to join a select first nations football club which will compete in an international tournament in Hawaii next summer.
Dano Thorne is the founder of the Native Indian Football Association (NIFA) and head coach of the program.
“Part of it is to give more opportunities to aboriginal kids,” he said, but it is also “to travel to international tournaments to experience other cultures and high level soccer.”
Since 1990 NIFA has been helping develop top level soccer talent in BC’s aboriginal communities and for the past three years Thorne has been focusing on its youth program.
The youth program is comprised of five teams from under-10 to under-18. Thorne said the program helps younger players build character and self-esteem and contributes to players competing at a higher level.
NIFA teams will compete August 10 to 20, 2014, at the Waipio International Youth Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. The organization has sent teams to compete in Cuba previously.
Junior Braves’ players James and Jerod Timothy, Silas Hackett, Tyler and Russ Pielle, Kobe and Hailey Galligos and Alana Washington were selected to join the NIFA squads.
“We’re really focusing on our young people who dream and aspire to play at higher levels,” said Thorne. “Building a pool of talented soccer players helps create pride in our families and communities.”
NIFA teams consist of players from around the province but are made up predominantly of west coast players from Vancouver Island.
Thorne said that the program is also designed to promote “intertribal friendships.”
Junior Braves’ coach Dave Moon said he is pleased with having so many of his players being recognized for the dedication to the game.
“They’re all very talented and good enough to play against teams from all over the world,” said Moon. For players to be considered for a spot on the team, they had to attend identification camps that happened last season on Vancouver Island.
Two of the players selected for the NIFA team are Moon’s sons, 10-year-old Jerod and 12-year-old James.
“It’s all worth it and it’s paying off in major ways,” said Moon. “Both my boys are battling for the captain’s armbands for their club teams.”
Moon has been chosen to join NIFA’s coaching squad and will likely coach one of the younger level teams after he completes his coaching certification.
“I’m not nervous, but I’ve never done this before,” said Moon about coaching at this level.
Moon said he is planning fundraising events to help his players pay for the trip, and NIFA is seeking out sponsors to help out with costs.
“Dave’s a good role model for the kids,” said Thorne. “He works hard to get them tournaments. We need more coaches like him in our communities.”
