KYSA TO HOST EDMONTON FC EXHIBITION MATCH

I am pleased to advise that the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association is staging an exhibition soccer game matching Edmonton FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL) against a Kamloops Men’s All-Star Team.

The match––one of the KYSA’s 50th Anniversary events––will kick-off at 3:00pm on Sunday, June 29th on McArthur Island Field #2.

The Kamloops All-Star Team is being coached by current TRU men’s soccer team head coach John Antulov, who played his youth soccer in Kamloops before going onto a stellar university career with Simon Fraser University and then with the Vancouver 86ers, along with KYSA Technical Director Ciaran McMahon.

It is expected that many of the players on the Kamloops team will be KYSA alumni.

The KYSA is charging a nominal admission charge for the match: $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 18 years of age or younger. Children 6 years of age or younger will be admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the KYSA office on McArthur Island (9:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday through Friday) or from Hansport––the soccer shop at 860 8th Street in North Kamloops. Hansport is open Monday-Friday from 10:00am-6:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm. The KYSA is also offering a special team rate. Teams interested in attending the match should contact the KYSA office for details.

Match sponsor, McDonald’s, are giving local soccer fans an opportunity to see the match––free. McDonald’s will give two tickets to anyone purchasing a meal combo at any Kamloops restaurant, upon request

There will be a beer garden open for the duration of the match located above the KYSA office next to Field #2.

In keeping with the “alumni” theme, the referee for the match will be Michelle Pye, who started her refereeing career in Kamloops. Michelle has risen to the ranks of a FIFA designation––the highest level a referee can aspire to in the soccer world. Michelle is one four Canadian officials to have been appointed to the pool of game officials for this summer’s 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada. This tournament is a chance for Michelle to gain valuable experience and potentially claim a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.

Michelle has previously officiated in the 2008, 2010  and 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups, the 2010 Algarve Cup (refereed 3rd place match between China and Sweden), and the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics (refereed the bronze medal game between Turkey and Iran).

Kamloops soccer players and coaches are invited to watch an Edmonton team training session under the guidance of head coach Colin Miller–who has also served intermittently as head coach of Canada’s Men’s National Team––on Saturday, June 28th on Field #1 at McArthur Island starting at 4:00pm. There is no cost to observe the training session.

Kindest regards,

KEITH LIDDIARD
Executive Director – KYSA