By Melissa Mancini
St. Anthony’s Italia Soccer club is hoping that winning a city-wide team-of-the-year award in Ottawa will help promote their club, including increasing youth participation and sponsorship.
Natale Papalia, director of communications for the club, says it’s important to get children involved at a young age to help them develop key soccer skills.
“That way they can get the necessary experience,” says Papalia. “They can learn the way the competition is supposed to be and we can take them overseas to really learn their skills.”
Taking young players overseas helps because soccer is played differently there, says Papalia. It helps them get established in the game, have fun and show their talent in other countries.
Johnny Mattioli, the soccer program director for the club, says based on the number of phone calls and e-mails to the club since the senior team won the award he sees increased interest in the club already.
“It has affected the club already, a lot of players are calling really wanting to play for St. Anthony’s club,” says Mattioli.
Simon Bonk, a player from last season’s award-winning team, will be coaching and playing in the upcoming season.
He says there has been increased calls to try out for St. Anthony’s since last season, but he isn’t sure if that is because of the recent award or its winning season.
“Ever since we won the nationals lots of guys want to try out but we don’t want to ruin the chemistry of the team,” says Aldo Popazzi, the winning team’s coach.
St. Anthony’s senior squad won Ottawa male amateur team of the year beating out the University of Ottawa Gee Gees football team, Carleton University Ravens basketball team and the club baseball team. The team had an excellent season, winning the Ottawa-Carleton soccer league, the Ontario Cup, the CSTL Canada Cup and the National Club team cup.
Bonk says he hears a lot of stories about more kids getting involved in soccer, but Canadian soccer needs to do more to increase mainstream support of the sport.
“Getting kids into the sport is one thing, but what Canada needs is to find a support and understanding for the game beyond just participation and interest,” says Bonk.
All four think the award will help St. Anthony’s in the long run.
“I personally think it is good not just for the club, but also for regional soccer and the city,” says Mattioli.
They also hope the award will increase sponsorship opportunities.
“There are a lot of travelling expenses to get the team at a good level, especially for an amateur team,” says Popazzi.
Bonk says the award will be good for the team and the club in many areas.
“The club is trying to build, so if this attracts extra players I think that is great,” says Bonk. “It may also help attract sponsorship for all the teams. If this translates into an awareness of the club that is excellent.”