LISC Players Depart for Chicago via Motor Coach

Well, they're off! All 18 players, 2 coaches and 8 parents (okay one child) pose for a quick picture at the Schnucks parking lot. Departure was a little ahead of schedule, leaving shortly after 10:00am CST.

Monticello Bus Company got us to the International Terminal of O'Hare in near record time arriving before 1:00pm. The check in process went real smooth even with many being their first time. We grabbed a quick meal, made it through security and are now waiting to board the SAS A300 airplane.

It's neat to see a former player, Stefan Wingo, come along his father as the Asst. Coach for the team. Though a new perspective on the side of the pitch, this will be his fifth trip to Sweden along with his father.

TEK

Gothia Cup- A Summary of the World's Largest Youth Soccer Tournament

The Gothia Cup is touted as the ’World Youth Cup’. It was started in 1975 and has had 126 different nations represented throughout the years. This year there are 1602 participating teams from 62 nations. There are 212 teams in our boys’ age group we call U14, for under 14 years old by 1st August in the US, which they call Class Boys 15. There are 62 boys and girls teams representing the United States, second largested representation only to Germany, however there are only five boy’s teams in our age class from the US.

The name Gothia Cup was invented by Mr. Bengt Bjerned from the club Gais. Gothia is the old latin word for the area where Gothenburg, Sweden is situated. In the Gothia Cup at least 80% of all boys games are played by teams from different countries. The girl’s soccer has more countries and should be of better quality than any other tournament. By having close to 70 countries every year that participate in the Gothia Cup, it remains the world’s most international tournament.

Much like the Olympics, the Gothia Cup has an opening ceremony of more than 500 dancers, chorus and solo artists in front of 50,000 spectators in the Ullevi Stadium and at a cost of $300,000 to produce. The Club Gothia Disco at Svenska Massan is one of the largest discos in the world with almost 5000 guests every night. This year they have also added Club Gothia Foam, a unique disco based on music and foam (yep, bubbles & more bubbles...not designed for those who don’t want to get wet) and take 1500 guests per evening.

The LISC players will be staying at a school with the classroom becoming a dorm setting, the locker room their bathroom and the cafeteria their meals away from home. There are 15 teams staying at the school in Gothenburg representing Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Greece and Spain. After a day of playing on the pitch (soccer field) they come back for dinner and barttering in the hallways. Each of the players have pins, stamps, cards, etc that will get exchanged with players from other countries. Of course with only four hours of ‘night’, the key is getting it all shut down and in bed for the next day’s game.

More information can be learned at the official website http://www.gothiacup.se/ , but to

get a real feel for what's in store, view the promotional video at http://www.gothiacuptv.com/.

TEK

Coach's Corner I

The excitement has predictably built to a feverish pitch. After a rain-shortened training session on Tuesday, our preparations for our European adventure are now complete. With the enormity of the challenge ahead of us, it has been easy these past few weeks to maintain our focus as we've gone through tactical organization and set-piece patterns at a dizzying pace. We are confident now in having a constructive option capable of meeting almost any situation on the field. All that is left is to bring a sense of self-belief to the sport's biggest stage and an eagerness to demonstrate our joy while exhibiting the skills we've worked so hard to develop.
Sleep now will not come easily, even though we are already trying to adjust to European time. Our bus leaves for O'Hare early Friday morning, and tomorrow will undoubtedly be spent packing, watching the clock move too slowly, and (if rumours can be believed) making some bad choices at the barber shop.
We would like to sincerely thank all of the many family, friends, and LISC supporters who have made this opportunity possible for us. We are determined to make you proud of us, by the quality of our play, and by the dignity and sportsmanship we exhibit as we represent you. We hope you will enjoy following us on this blog as our adventure unfolds.

WCIA 10:00pm News- LISC U14B Preparing for Europe

This is the broadcst of the WCIA 10:00pm news June 30th, 2009 about the LISC U14 Boys preparing for Europe. Interviews include Joey Lund and Andy Drackley.

It can be viewed via Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_wQmW6P8ao.

TEK

WCIA's Jenny Gastwirth interviews Andy Drackley(white) and Joey Lund(orange) @ June 30th Training

Joey Lund answers questions from WCIA's Jenny Gastwirth as Coach Mike Wingo conducts the training session in the background.

Andy Drackley puts the finishing touches on the interview just in time for this to be aired on the 10 o'clock news.

Team meeting/dinner at Coach Wingo's home

John Muwana stands proudly with his mother.

Stephen Downie displays the LISC team banner created by Coach Wingo that will be presented to the challenging teams.

Saul Downie shows off his team's crest.

Coach Mike Wingo explains some of the important details of the trip.

The potluck dinner was a success! The families and small children had to stay out of the way of the hungry players.

President's Cup, Madison, WI June 12th - 14th, 2009

US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup

The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive experience to US Youth Soccer teams from the state to regional to national level. The Presidents Cup gives players an additional opportunity to compete against teams from across the country at a high level for the joy and the challenge of the game. It provides the chance to experience a unique US Youth Soccer event with camaraderie, community and competition through sport.

Regional qualifiers, known as US Youth Soccer Regional Presidents Cup events, will determine the teams competing in the President Cup Finals, July 16-18, 2009 in Raleigh, N.C., at the WRAL Soccer Complex and feature boys and girls teams in the Under-14 through Under-17 age groups.

US Youth Soccer Region I Presidents Cup Kirkwood, Del.
Kirkwood Soccer Complex
June 20-21, 2009

US Youth Soccer Region II Presidents Cup Madison, Wis.
Reddan Soccer Park
June 12-15, 2009

US Youth Soccer Region III Presidents Cup Greer, S.C.
MESA Soccer Complex
June 12-14, 2009

US Youth Soccer Region IV Presidents Cup Tri-Cities, Wash.
Tri-Cities Youth Soccer Complex
June 11-14, 2009

US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Finals Raleigh, N.C.
WRAL Soccer Complex
July 17-19, 2009

Note: The US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup is a separate series of events from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

With only one team being selected from each State for each age group, LISC was well represented with both the U14 Boys team and U14 Girls team competing in Region II. Unfortunately, the U14 Boys team from Missouri won 2:1 against LISC to advance to Finals. However, the LISC U14 Girls team, who also competed in Regionals this same weekend, won and now advance to Raleigh, NC for the Presidents Cup Final Four, July 17-19, 2009.

It was great to have George Vulgaris back for this tournament as we now have all 18 players practicing and playing together in preparation for Europe. The picture above is all 18 players and Coach Wingo.

TEK