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Top youth prospect debuts with Powell River Villa

Caleb Vallance excited to play before hometown friends and fans
Powell River’s Caleb Vallance
GIFTED PLAYER: Powell River’s Caleb Vallance [centre], 15, will be playing for Powell River Villa in Saturday’s home game at Timberlane Park. Contributed photo

Powell River’s Caleb Vallance, one of the top youth soccer players in BC, has been signed by Powell River Villa SC on a youth permit.

“He's a really gifted player and reads the field extremely well,” said Villa coach Chris McDonough. “He's got great passing, great speed and all the good things that make a good player.”

Vallance will make his debut with the team at Villa’s home game against Vic West on Saturday, October 20, at Timberlane Park. Vallance said he is excited to play.

“I haven't had a game in Powell River for a long time with people I know watching,” said Vallance. “It should be good.”

The 15-year-old plays with Vancouver Island Wave in the BC Premier League. In June, the Wave won the provincial championship cup on his game-winning goal and advanced as the BC representative to Canada Soccer’s U15 National Championships.

He was also signed to Team BC in 2018, where he caught the eye of Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy and was invited for a tryout. His goal is to join the program full time in 2019.

Vallance already knows Villa’s system and the players.

“I've been practicing with those guys for the last couple of years and I know them all pretty well,” he said. “It's a really nice group of guys; it's a good team.

Villa has kept its eye on Vallance, hoping to one day bring him in on permit, according to McDonough.

“We knew we had a chance to get him this season,” said the coach.

Vallance hopes he gets a chance to start in the game against Vic West but said he is fine either way.

McDonough said that decision will be made on game day but added that Vallance will definitely get on the field.

Game time is 1:30 pm.