Winnipeg’s Valour FC creates elite girls soccer program for teens

Winnipeg’s newest sports club is starting an elite soccer program for teen girls.

Called the Valour FC Elite Girls team, the program will be open to female players between 14 and 17 years old. It will replace the current Manitoba Blizzard team.

“Giving these girls a chance to compete at the highest level and continue on to play at a university level and beyond is the goal,” said Rob Gale, head coach of Valour FC, in a statement.

The elite girls team will be led by manager Trevor Kidd and head coach Jim Zinko. Staff will “continue the tradition of educating players and parents in the realities of the recruiting process, stressing the importance of good grades at all times,” the club said in a statement.

“Since 2010, 73 girls from the Manitoba Blizzard team have nabbed more than $4 million in scholarships across North America,” said Zinko.

Training will begin in the fall, and competition season runs from late November into April.