Sports
Africa defeated Canada 5-1 in the 2018 Men’s Open Division title.
Photo by Chung Chow
Africa aims to build on Nations Cup success
Published 11:31 PDT, Tue July 9, 2019
Last Updated: 12:16 PDT, Tue July 30, 2019
Africa reached the pinnacle of the amateur soccer world last July in Richmond, winning the 2018 Nations Cup Men’s Open Division championship with a commanding 5-1 victory over Canada.
Africa reached the pinnacle of the amateur
soccer world last July in Richmond, winning the 2018 Nations Cup Men’s Open
Division championship with a commanding 5-1 victory over Canada.
It was a result that Jerry Gbardy, president
of the African Canadian Soccer and Cultural Community Association, was elated
by.
“Words cannot express how happy I am,” he
said at the time, noting reaching the top was an exercise many years in the
making.
Both teams are looking to again make it
through to the final match at the 2019 tournament, kicking off Friday at Hugh
Boyd Park. The tournament continues through Sunday, with games also being
played at Minoru Park.
Dating back to 1979, this year marks the 40th
anniversary of the annual summer tournament recognized by players and
spectators as one of the best amateur men’s and women’s soccer events in
Western Canada.
Modelled after the World Cup, the tournament
concept is unique in that players are grouped based on their ethnic backgrounds
and/or countries or origin. The format makes for an exciting atmosphere.
Each year, some of the province’s best young
soccer talent gathers to showcase their skills. On average, more than 1,000
players compete in the men’s and women’s open divisions, and over 30, over 38,
over 45 and over 52 men’s divisions.
Robbie Glezen of Africa was chosen the outstanding
player in the men’s open division, while teammate Brendan Skinner earned
outstanding defender honours. Italy’s Carlo Basso again topped the goal scoring
parade for the third consecutive year.
The other men’s tournament results were:
• Over 52—China 3 Serbia 1
• Over 30—India 1 Caribbean 0
• Over 45—Fiji 2 Germany 1
• Over 38—India 1 Serbia 0
Click here, for this year’s Nations Cup schedule.
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