It was a whole new thing for them, but the team came together like it had been there before, and two local soccer players have some pretty cool memories to look back on.
Reid Davidson and Masen Fernandes, 15-year-olds from 100 Mile House, were part of a British Columbia contingent that recently went on a tour with the European Football School, based in North Vancouver, which saw 30 players from the province visit six countries – Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland – and play exhibition games as part of different teams made up of players 14- to 16-years-old.
Heading into it, the boys figured the Europeans would be stiff competition. They came back undefeated, with four wins and one tie.
After the games, the Canadians would talk with their opponents, Davidson says.
“They were all surprised with how good we were. I guess we proved Canada can play soccer as well as them.”
Fernandes says the team “gelled” after its first game and coach Saibo Talic prepared them well for the experience.
“We played well together, and we played a good, fast passing game.”
“We both played pretty good minutes,” Fernandes adds of himself and Davidson.
The group also did some sightseeing and took in professional soccer games as part of the trip. When asked what
they’ll remember most, both Davidson and Fernandes answer along the lines of “getting to know the guys” and “the team.”
The pair returned on April 2. Since then they’ve already taken the field again playing for a team in Kamloops.
Davidson says he learned a lot from the trip.
Fernandes says his favourite stop was Salzburg, Austria.
“It was warm outside. It had that old European feeling. The mountains around it were really nice. And the field was good.”
