Photo via Rivers FC/Fallsway Marketing & Media
A pair of Canadian Premier League teams will be sending their reserve squads to play the Fulham Under-21 men’s team during the inaugural Kamloops International Cup later this month.
Rivers FC General Manager Lyle Dos Santos says Calvary FC from Calgary will play at 2 p.m. on July 28, followed by Vancouver FC at 3 p.m. on July 31.
“We’ve had conversations with more than just these two clubs. We’ve been speaking with a number of professional clubs trying to get them to the community so it was a lot of work, but the amazing part is there was a great amount of excitement on their end as well,” Dos Santos said.
“They see the opportunity here to also play Fulham at such a high level. Amazing opportunity for local talent to see where they are with this benchmark.”
Dos Santos says it was a “big challenge” to lineup these two CPL teams to play in Kamloops, as the CPL season is currently underway.
“We were working with the Director of Operations at both clubs and the head coaches to ensure they have their first team rosters, they have they youth teams which is fluid and players move up and down,” Dos Santos said.
“We’re trying to ensure we get the highest level of competition but at the same time be cognizant of the fact that they’re in season.”
The third and final match, which will be played at 12 noon on Aug. 3, will feature a team of League1 BC All Stars.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity and uncharted waters,” Dos Santos said. “No one has ever done this before. We’re going to bring together all the clubs in League1 BC and take the best players that we feel from each club to represent the league against a professional U21 team.”
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Dos Santos says while work to finalize two of the three opponents for Aston Villa’s U21 women’s team – who will be in Kamloops between Aug. 5 and 18 – is ongoing, the third match on Aug 18 will also feature a team of League1 BC All Stars.
All of the games will be played at Hillside Stadium with tickets priced between $15 and $30.
In addition to the matches, Dos Santos says there will be a series of youth soccer clinics and opportunities for local coaches to attend training sessions.
“This is the exciting part for myself being the General Manager of the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association as well and wanting to develop kids here locally in our community,” Dos Santos said. “They’ve been amazing partners to work with and both Aston Villa and Fulham and they’ve basically committed to us saying ‘let us know what you need.'”
“They’ve donated their time to us to create youth camps for footballers who want to get access to the highest level of coaching, and so we’ll be doing two one and a half hour camps, one of the boys and one for the girls.”
For more on the Kamloops International Cup, go here.
