Cowichan LMG head coach Glen Martin will lead the Vancouver Island Soccer League all-star team into action this weekend against a contingent from the Fraser Valley Soccer League.
The VISL roster for the all-star game at Newton Athletic Park on Saturday will include eight players from Martin’s defending Jackson Cup champion Cowichan team, and will be managed by Neall Rowlings, who also manages the Cowichan Valley’s senior soccer teams.
VISL Div. 1 scoring leader Paddy Nelson will be joined on the all-star roster by Cowichan teammates Govinda Innes, Craig Gorman, Steve Scott, Cooper Barry, Tyler Hughes, Kevan Brown and Brad Archibald. Six other VISL teams have players on the all-star roster as well.
“I picked a pretty experienced team,” Martin said. “Most guys have been on an all-star team before. They’re all good players. There’s a good mix of veteran players and some young guys.”
The VISL team won the all-star showdown 2-0 last year, also under Martin’s leadership.
The Division 1 all-star game will be preceded by the masters all-star game, which will also include plenty of Cowichan content on the VISL team. Coach Kevin James will lead the Island squad, which features players Richard Lord, George Thomas, Rob McIntyre, Darcy Kulai and Ryan Fusick.
Of course, the festivities will only go forward if weather permits, and some forecasts are calling for snow this weekend.
“Hopefully the weather hangs in there and lets us play,” Martin said.
Just before Christmas, Martin was honoured by the City of Duncan, which presented the coach with its Perpetual Sports Award. In addition to his extensive success with Cowichan LMG, including winning four Jackson Cup championships in the last six years, qualifying for the last seven provincial tournaments, and winning the last two VISL Div. 1 titles, Martin also won provincial U16 titles in 2003 and 2005, and claimed several junior and senior golf championships over the years.
Cowichan LMG is scheduled to return to action on Friday, Jan. 20, on the road against Lakehill, followed by a home date with Nanaimo on Jan. 27. A make-up home game against Comox is tentatively set for Jan. 14.
