A lot changed during Anup Kang’s 18 years as a minor soccer executive, and a lot will continue to change now that he’s stepped down.
Kang, president of the Nanaimo Youth Soccer Club since 2002, resigned the position on Monday. He was a minor soccer board member in the city years before that, starting with the old Wellington association.
“We didn’t have the technology that we do now and the kids from the previous year that didn’t register, we used to go to their house and get them registered,” said Kang. “Things have changed.”
Back then, he recalls, minor soccer registration fees were as low as $20 for pony league.
These days, rising costs have become an issue that has been divisive among parents. Kang said he feels the NYSC has done a good job with things like fund-raising and sponsorship in an effort to keep registration fees reasonable.
“I still think it’s affordable to play soccer, even at the highest level,” Kang said. “It doesn’t cost as much as other sports.”
Dissent from some parents the past two seasons over the Canadian Soccer Association’s long-term athlete development model and associated costs was “not really” a factor in his decision to quit, he said.
“This was totally my decision and in fact, I’ve had members ask me to stay on,” said Kang. “We made some tough decisions over the last couple years and those were decisions that we made in the best interests of development of soccer in Nanaimo.”
Kang is proud of helping bring about the merger of two minor soccer associations into the NYSC, and counts the turf fields project as another success.
In recent years, Kang was also instrumental in bringing special-event soccer to Nanaimo, including visits from Vancouver Whitecaps teams, U.K. club team Cardiff City and the Canadian national women’s team.
For those sort of attractions to return, Kang said, Nanaimo needs the right facility – one of his final projects with the NYSC was submitting a proposal to the Nanaimo Track and Field Club to work toward improvements at Rotary Bowl stadium.
“I’m hoping the club will carry on with that,” he said.
Stepping aside now, Kang said, gives candidates time to prepare for election of a new president, which will take place at the NYSC’s annual general meeting in May.
“There’s some people there who are really, really dedicated to taking soccer to the next level in Nanaimo,” said Kang. “I feel confident one of the current board members will step forward and make a good leader and carry on with what we’ve been doing in the past.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
