North Bay soccer players in Vaughn

Five young North Bay soccer players will have an opportunity of a lifetime in Vaughan, Ontario this weekend. However, their journey began last October, when Darius Tignanelli, Kyle DeCosta, Nick Piquette, Michael Mason and Robin Pelletier were selected last summer to be part of a provincial soccer initiative called the Everton Way that would allow the training and development of 12 year old soccer players around the province.

The province is divided into seven regions of which North Bay is Region 6. The North Bay athletes have been attending training sessions at Sudbury’s Indoor Soccer Center under the instruction of Brian Ashton, a former professional player for Toronto. Every second weekend, 20 players from the North converge onto Sudbury for two hours sessions on Saturday and Sunday. This soccer development program is modeled after, and sponsored by Everton which is a high-profile team in England’s Premiere Division.

The purpose of the provincial program is for the seven regions to train the 1994-born players in order to establish the Under 14 Provincial Club that recently returned from Chile. The system allows the players to progress at an elite level for the few who are fortunate to advance.

The Vaughan weekend is referred to as the Provincial Assessment Tournament. Region 6 will play four games against other regional teams. However, the focus is on the individual players. The provincial coaches will be evaluating and assessing the young prospects.

DeCosta and Pelletier are looking forward to the weekend, but feel the nervousness associated with performing at such a level while Michael Mason will be relying on his speed to capture the attention of the coaches. Darius Tignanelli, will be playing an interior fullback position and is anxious to face the strikers from the south. Unfortunately, Nick Piquette suffered a broken wrist and he will be cheering on his teammates from the sidelines.

The journey for the athletes does not end here. They will continue their training sessions in Sudbury throughout the summer. This Everton Program will come to an end for many in September, when the boys will have their final opportunity to travel to Vaughan, whereby the fortunate few will be selected to continue training for the Under 14 provincial team.

Tignanelli, DeCosta, Mason, Pelletier and Piquette are all members of North Bay’s Davedi Club United - Under 13 Boys Rep Team.

Submitted to BayToday.ca