WAILUA – The sound of hundreds of youngsters aged 10 to 14 years of age filled the air at the Wailua Houselots Park, and the Kapa‘a Beach Park as the Kaua‘i Soccer Association (KSA) opened their Spring season with games
WAILUA – The sound of hundreds of youngsters aged 10 to 14 years of age filled the air at the Wailua Houselots Park, and the Kapa‘a Beach Park as the Kaua‘i Soccer Association (KSA) opened their Spring season with games Saturday.
Games for the younger soccer enthusiasts took place at the Wailua Houselots Park while the older soccer players converged on the Kapa‘a Beach Park where games took place from 8:30 in the morning until late in the afternoon.
Several of the teams that will be heading to O‘ahu for the Kirk Banks Tournament in March are also involved in the KSA season, working to hone their skills before leaving for the off-island tournament.
Two of these teams, an Under 14 girls team from the Westside took advantage of a Friday afternoon practice session in Waimea to scrimmage against the Under 12 boys team, the Flaming Pickles, in preparation for the Saturday games.
One team mom of the Pickles noted that the boys and coaches are from the westside, but for the KSA season, are being sponsored by the Hanalei Inn and will be listed on the schedules as PK’s.
The Pickles were invited to the Kirk Banks Tournament after clinching the U12 boys title during the AYSO season.
She added that due to the fact that some of the Pickles come from single parent homes, they are in the process of fund-raising to help defray expenses for these players.
The PK’s chipped out a 3-2 opening day win over the Arsenal in Wailua.
Out on the fields, coaches and players appeared to be delighted with the resumption of soccer, one coach noting that his players came from Kalaheo, Hanapepe, and Waimea.
Another midfielder who had a soft cast was doing his job mindless of his impediment, the coach noting that the officials checked before allowing the player to play.
Due to the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) state soccer championships taking place on O‘ahu, the Under 18 teams drew a bye for the opening weekend.
This weekend’s games move to the North Vidinha Fields and Isenberg Field in Lihu‘e starting from 8:30 a.m.
Full results of Saturday’s opening day games as well as the schedule for this Saturday’s games can be found in the Scoreboard on Page B2.
