Encinitas Express Boys Show Their Skills at Gothia Cup
During the past two summers Encinitas Express has sent competitive teams to play in the annual Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. In July 2013 the BU14 team made the journey, accompanied by Director of Coaching Guy Newman. During the trip, which included a stopover in London, the boys experienced the thrill of international play and the joy of meeting and making new friends.
Gothia Cup is one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the world and regularly hosts over 1500 teams from more than 75 different countries. Players not only face some of the most talented competition of their youth careers, but get to know young athletes from around the globe. It is a life-changing experience for players, coaches and parents alike.
This year the journey began with a short visit in England, which allowed the players to make the time adjustment from California. Anyone who has traveled internationally knows that jet lag is a major factor in the first few days, and that can be all the difference in competition. The England stop also gave the boys and their chaperones the chance to experience a country that is steeped in the history and tradition of soccer. The highlight of London was a visit to Wembley Stadium. The previous year the team made trips to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, Liverpool FC’s Anfield and Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge.
Soccer was not the only draw for the travelers. While in London the team and families took in London Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. They also had the chance to experience the various foods and flavors of England’s capital city.
From London Express boarded a flight at Heathrow Airport for Gothenburg. At the airport the boys met and mingled with players on their way to Gothia Cup from all around the world. Both in England and later in Sweden the boys and their new acquaintances took time to compare gear and share travel experiences.
Gothenburg was a new experience for the boys and the adults who accompanied them. They settled into a converted schoolhouse classroom as their dormitory for the week, setting up cots and mattresses side-by-side where desks and chairs normally sat. With coaches and parent volunteers coordinating practices, meals and what little free time was available, the week in Sweden gave a new meaning to team bonding.
The opening ceremonies of any international event are a sight to behold and a thrill to participate in. The competition was equally exciting as Express began their guaranteed three bracket matches. With games played at fields spread all around the greater Gothenburg area, transportation could have been a challenge. The Gothia Cup solved that problem with a Gothia Card that allowed free access to all public transportation for every tournament participant. All day and into the night busses, trolleys and trams could be seen shuttling teams from venue to venue.
Encinitas Express opened the competition on July 15 with a 0-1 loss to IFK Goteborg, but the team rallied the next day to defeat Gefle IF 5-2. The international victory was a huge thrill to players, parents and coaches alike. Their final bracket match was a 0-3 loss to Sunnersta AIF, but the team’s 3 points were enough to move them on to the Round of 32. In their first playoff match Express took a 5-3 victory against Atvidabergs FF to advance to the Round of 16. Unfortunately they came up against a strong Savedalens IF side that ended their bid with a 3-0 defeat.
In between the matches and practices the kids and adults had the chance to experience the beauty and culture of Sweden. From sightseeing to trying out new foods, each day was its own adventure. The local Swedes were gracious hosts – friendly and patient to the international visitors and spoke impeccable English. It was a week filled with memories that will last lifetimes.
“This was a wonderful experience for our players regardless of the scorecard at the end of the week,” said Director of Coaching Guy Newman. “The kids got to see what a truly global celebration of soccer looks like.”
To coordinate the travel adventure, the Encinitas Express worked with Loek van Zijl‘s company, Premier International Tours, to ensure that everything went smoothly. Premier International Tours is the official international team travel partner of US Soccer and U.S. Club Soccer and provides tours to the top soccer associations, clubs and leagues in the USA.
“It is always a pleasure to work with a club like Encinitas Express,” said van Zijl. “They are a top club in Southern California and Guy Newman is a high quality person who really looks out for the players in the club. He truly believes in player development and the value that an international trip has on player development. It’s no surprise the Encinitas Express teams are successful with this philosophy and Guy’s experience as a pro player himself. We look forward to working with more teams from the club and their international endeavors.”
With such an amazing experience recently completed, it’s no wonder that Encinitas Express has committed to making the Gothia Cup an annual tradition. Two teams, one girls’ team and one boys’ team, are already making preparations for next summer’s event. The Summer of 2014 is sure to be special.
