KIRKLAND — Every year at this time, the Lakeshore Soccer Club is busy preparing for its annual Soccerfest tournament. This year is no different, except for the fact that they have an extra helping hand. His name is Daniel Deveney and he comes to the Kirkland-based club all the way from Liverpool, England.
“I’m here to hopefully pass my expertise on to some Canadian kids and get them up to the standard where they want to be,” said Deveney, 28.
Deveney first came to the Lakeshore Soccer Club through an agreement with Challenger Sports, one of the largest soccer camp operators in the USA and Canada.
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After a short stint with the club in 2013, he was brought on for the entire summer season this year as the technical director for Lakeshore Soccer’s recreational players.
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“He is the best technical support and service the club has ever provided for its recreational division,” said the club’s manager Kelly-Anne Soutter.
Deveney coached hundreds of house-league kids with three full-week camps throughout the summer. His goal is to begin to bridge the gap between recreational and competitive soccer.
With the camps now over, the focus has turned to Soccerfest, the largest recreational soccer event in the province taking place Aug. 16 and 17.
Over 150 teams participate in the weekend-long tournament which benefits the Lakeshore Soccer Club’s teams for children with intellectual deficiencies.
“It’s going to be amazing,” said Deveney. “I’m hoping to see some skills that I’ve taught over the weekend, some goals, and some fun as well.”
He stressed the importance of the latter.
As much as he focuses attention on the children’s technique, Deveney said the main thing is that the kids have fun.
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