The Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) has recently honoured long-time Yorkton soccer coach Alfredo Bermudez for his work in developing and building soccer within the city of Yorkton and province of Saskatchewan.
Bermudez, originally from El Salvador, was awarded one of the SSA’s most prestigious awards – the President’s Award – for the work he has done in and around the community in the 25-plus years that he’s been involved with Yorkton soccer. “I’m really happy that I was nominated for that award and really happy that I won it,” said Bermudez. “It’s very overwhelming, winning it and then seeing the support from the community.
“So many people were happy for me and congratulating me on winning this award and it feels very nice to be recognized like that.”
The reasons Bermudez became the most recent recipient of the President’s Award – and the first person in five years to be awarded it – are numerous.
The soccer loving Bermudez moved to Yorkton over a quarter century ago from Mexico City, where he lived for over two years after fleeing his native El Salvador due to the civil war, bringing with him his then two-year-old son Omar.
When Omar turned six, Bermudez said he began looking for a soccer program within the city for his son and found one, but realized it needed some major help. “I found the soccer program here, but it wasn’t a strong program at the time,” said Bermudez. “I found out that the organization needed some help, so I started helping and that’s how I started being involved with soccer in Yorkton.”
From there, Bermudez says he coached his son’s teams until Omar graduated from high school and finished with minor soccer.
For most, that would be the end of the relationship with the organization. Not for Bermudez, though. “When you have your own kids you coach them from the beginning until they grow up, then that’s it. Your coaching is usually over,” mentioned Bermudez. “But for me, I really wasn’t satisfied with that.
“I wanted to stay involved with soccer in Yorkton, so I did.”
So instead of riding off into the night, Bermudez began trying to organize a competitive soccer program within Yorkton; and with the help of other like-minded people, he succeeded and Yorkton United was born. “I thought to myself that it would be nice if there was a competitive program here in Yorkton, so I helped other people start up the competitive club and it’s very nice to be one of the people that started that,” said Bermudez. “We started going to tournaments and playing stronger teams, and now I’m so happy to see that Yorkton has such a strong program with some very competitive teams in the sport of soccer.”
Not only did Bermudez help build the soccer program in Yorkton, however.
He also continued to coach and aid young players after his son finished his minor soccer career, winning countless tournament and provincial championships, including a total of seven provincial titles with his current group of Yorkton United girls. “This girls team, they’re great,” offered Bermudez on his current crop of players, the U18 Yorkton United ladies team. “They’ve shown so much improvement over the years and have played so well, it’s great to be a part of their development.”
Sadly, Bermudez will have to soon say good-bye to his current team, as some players will be graduating and moving on to university.
But all that means is, he’ll be able to help other local players hone their soccer skills, because although he’s been coaching for a quarter century, he’s not finished yet. “I don’t think it’s time for me to quit just yet,” said a laughing Bermudez. “As long as they want me to coach, I’ll coach. With United, or with Sacred Heart, it doesn’t matter to me.”
