Cheers and vuvuzelas were in plentiful supply at YK Galaxy Soccer Academy’s second annual Merry Moments tournament in Yellowknife’s fieldhouse.
The weekend tournament provided an opportunity for visiting graduates of the academy to reconnect, and for the club to highlight its accomplishments as well as some of the challenges ahead.
The tournament was open. Defny Torindo, YK Galaxy’s administrative coordinator, said people who aren’t a part of the club or don’t play in the regular season could still participate.
“It allows all the kids in our community to be part of the excitement,” said Torindo, adding some young players were even dividing their time between this event and a nearby hockey tournament.
Torindo is part of a soccer family. Her father played professionally in Zimbabwe and her brother, Dillon Torindo, was making his way toward a professional career when an injury stalled his momentum.
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In 2018, Dillon’s continued love for the game pushed him to create YK Galaxy.
The club has since grown from about 60 players to 200, said Defny, with a long waitlist of young people eager to join.
Tanisha Steinwand and Brianna Brenton both started playing soccer in Grade 5 and played together at YK Galaxy. The two were happy to reunite on the pitch while Brenton is home for the holidays.
At 20, the two continue to play soccer, with Steinwand competing in the city’s adult league and Brenton in a women’s league in Halifax, where she’s going to school.
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“It’s just nice to get back together. That doesn’t happen very often,” said Steinwand.
Brenton isn’t the only one with soccer ambitions far from home.
Ten-year-old Panashe Ziyapapa is speedy on the field and has been playing soccer since he was just two years old, he said.
“I just love the way you can just run around and take chances,” said Ziyapapa.
Ziyapapa has qualified for a training camp and tournament in Spain next spring.
Ziyapapa said he’s excited for the adventure and to get to visit some of the stadiums around Spain.
Mairi and Marin Rutherford-Simon, meanwhile, had some advice to give after watching a game played between parents and coaches at the tournament.
“I said that mama needs to get better passes and my dad needs to be better at defence,” said Mairi.
