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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-02-05, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015. A special training seminar for soccer coaches is being offered at the YMCA in Goderich in March featuring a world-renowned coach. Bento Vieira, a Brazilian coach who holds the highest training available for soccer coaches, is being brought in to do a special two- day course, March 3 and 10, to prepare coaches in the area. Organizer Annie Sparling of Blyth, who is the general manager of a local futsal organization that offers a year-round soccer experience, said, in an interview with The Citizen, that there are currently seven spots available in the course. “We’re looking at having 10 people in total there,” she said. “Three people have already signed up.” Vieira, who is being brought to the area by Poncho Melo, a former professional soccer player from Mexico who is heavily involved with the aforementioned futsal organization, was once believed to be one of the best players the world would see, having been scouted by international soccer superstar Pelé. However, an untimely motor vehicle collision cut short his playing career by breaking both his legs. Two weeks after being signed to one of Belgium’s most successful professional soccer teams, Anderlecht, the accident sidelined the then 24-year-old up-and-comer. While the team was ready to wait out his recovery, he was never able to move with the same speed and skill he had before despite 12 surgeries on his knees and ankles. In 1993, after realizing he wouldn’t play, he began to focus on coaching. Nine years later, Vieira attained the final level of the International Training Course for Football Coaches, which is similar to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) “A” licence, which is the highest coaching certification in the world. He then went on to run a soccer school in Brazil helping players to realize their full potential. In the years that followed, he worked with several soccer clubs in Brazil and the surrounding areas, and also made trips to Canada to share his skills. Since 2009, Vieira has been coaching soccer clubs and running soccer training programs in London, St. Thomas, Woodstock and the surrounding communities. “We’re really hoping that people will understand that this is an impressive calibre of training,” Sparling said, mentioning that a player-training course is being planned for late-spring to early- summer this year. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to provide some unique training opportunities for players with Bento.” For more information, or to sign up for the course, e-mail Sparling at huronfc@hotmail.com or call 519- 524-0609. Coaches’ clinic to feature star coach Sports Brussels-area teen Olivia McArter has a lot of first-hand experience with the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre and she thinks it needs some tender, loving care. The Grade 12 student at F.E. Madill Secondary School collects money at the door for the Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey Association at the community centre and said that, after feeling the bitter bite of the cold winter winds one too many times, she wanted to do something about it. “There’s some problems that need to be fixed there,” she said. “That’s why I think it’s a worthy arena for the Kraft Hockeyville contest.” The contest, which calls upon communities to support their arenas through nominations on its website, will give $25,000 to the top eight communities in terms of nominations, $100,000 to the second place finisher and $250,000 to the first place finisher for upgrades and McArter hopes for big Hockeyville win for BMGCC Making life easier The Belgrave Community Centre was the place to be over the weekend, both for the annual old-timers hockey tournament and for the unveiling of the new flooding unit for the arena’s natural ice surface. The unit was originally a feed cart that has been converted to serve this new purpose. The unit was donated by Cook Electric, customized by Paul and Bill Garniss of the Garniss Brothers and Paul Willie of Willie’s Custom Collision, and adorned with decals by Ken Whitmore of Blyth Printing. With the new unit, Marvin Cook, Belgrave’s arena manager, will be able to flood the ice in half the time it had taken him in the past. From left: Paul Cook of Cook Electric, Paul Garniss (holding Nolan Garniss), Paul Willie, Bill Garniss and Marvin Cook. (Vicky Bremner photo) Winter Sports Pages Blyth B u l l d o g s A t o m — B a c k r o w , f r o m l e f t : L o r e t t a T h o m p s o n , T r e v o r R a y n a r d , Aaron P o p p , T y l e r B l a c k , J o h n L e C o m t e , J e f f P l a e t z e r , M a t t h e w P o p p , F o u r t h r o w : Coache s K i r k S t e w a r t , C h a d H a g g i t t , C o l e S t e w a r t , K a r e n P e n n i n g t o n , D o r e e n Thomps o n , L i n d a P l a e t z e r , D o u g W a l k e r , L a r r y P l a e t z e r . T h i r d r o w : C o d y D u c h a r m e , Dana Te e d , J a m i e P l a e t z e r , K e l s e y S m i t h , M a t t h e w C l a r k e , E m m a B r o h m . S e c o n d row: Ry a n P a q u i n , A l i c i a M i d d e g a a l , C a r l y W h i t f i e l d , C o d y R i c h m o n d , K i r b y C o o k , Cody K e d d y , C a l e b B r o w n . F r o n t r o w : A d a m C r o n i n , K e v i n P e n n i n g t o n , J o n a t h o n Atkinso n , K a y l a B l a c k . A b s e n t : S t e v e n E l l i s . The Citizen Coaches and parents ~ we need your team’s picture and players’ names • Hockey • Broomball 1. Please submit team photo A.S.A.P. 2. Please include players’ and coaches’ names for under the photo. Please help us get ALL the Winter Sports teams published. 413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 A call to action The Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre is in need of some TLC according to Brussels teen Olivia McArter. To that end, the F.E. Madill Secondary School student is pressing for the centre to be part of the next Kraft Hockeyville event and she needs people to vote at the hockeyville website, www.khv2015.ca/en/, to bring some funds and prestige to the centre. The deadline for the vote is Feb. 9 at 11 p.m. (Denny Scott photo) Continued on page 16 By Denny Scott The Citizen