The Yorkton United Football Club (YUFC) tried something new this year when the club fielded a team from Yorkton to compete in the month-long World Cup Soccer Tournament in Regina.
Not only did the YUFC boys try something new out in representing "Team Germany" at the WCP Cup, the Yorkton side added to the experience with a deep run in the tournament in their first attempt.
With the help of YUFC coaches Andy Wyatt and Benno Looft, the Under 12 Boys Team Germany reached the WCP U-12 Final which took place at Regina's EventPlex indoor soccer field on Saturday, April 26 where the boys earned a silver medal against Team England with a score of 3-1.
Held in Regina each spring, the WCP Cup is an exciting event for mens' and womens' teams from Under 12 up to Adult. Before the tournament teams choose a country to represent based on the heritage of players and coaches (Yorkton had 7 heritage players and two coaches with German heritage).
There were 99 teams across all categories in this year's tournament with as many as 1500 fans coming out to game, giving the young players a true big match atmosphere that led to an excited group who went into group play with a strong foot that helped garner some early momentum for Team Germany.
Team Germany, in a pool of seven teams, reached the finals with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses good enough to come across undefeated England who went a perfect 6-0 in their seven group play fixtures.
First half play was tight as expected in the final as both young teams managed to keep the other side scoreless through the opening sequences of the match before both teams had to settle for the Nil-nil draw after the first.
Early in the second half Team Germany made their move as Jairus Pellatt opened the scoring from a kick-in to put the Yorkton boys up 1-Nil over England.
Their lead was sadly shortlived as England answered back within a minute to tie the game 1-1. Despite a great team effort and creating lots of chances, Yorkton's Team Germany could not put the ball in the net while England scored another two to make the final score 3-1, ending a hard fought month of football/soccer from the young team who had an amazing experience at the tournament for the first time.
Coach Andy Wyatt was very proud of the way his team played. "The boys were playing a tough team without fear and were having a lot of fun. It is the kind of soccer that we love to see these boys play."
Coach Benno Looft was also impressed with the level of play he saw in the boys. "Their passes and the ideas behind the passes were excellent."
The entire game will be aired on Access Community Cable on the evening of May 1 for those who want to watch Team Germany play in the final and represent Yorkton in the event.
YUFC Men's player Steve DeLong also won honours at the WCP Cup, playing for Team Ireland winning the Men's Golden Boot with 14 goals.
Other notables from the city included Nathan Ruff, Tye Doll and Robert Okeny representing Yorkton for Team Serbia in addition to Hannah Adam and Sarah Nelson representing Yorkton's girls in the U-12 tournament, winning silver with Team Canada.
