Masters soccer team has high hopes heading into weekend tournament

After several months of training, players on the Whitehorse Rapids 50+ are ready to put their skills into practice at the Penticton Masters Invitational Soccer Tournament.

After several months of training, players on the Whitehorse Rapids 50+ are ready to put their skills into practice at the Penticton Masters Invitational Soccer Tournament.
The outdoor tournament runs Saturday and Sunday, with the finals scheduled for Monday. The Whitehorse Rapids squad will depart for Penticton, B.C. on Friday. 
“I think we have a good team,“ said Tim Shoniker “We are very positive, we are all looking to have fun and that’s the most important aspect, regardless of what the outcome is. It will be a great experience.“
The Penticton Invitational Soccer Tournament is one of larger masters soccer competitions in Canada. It features several different categories of competition, including 35 and over, 40 and over, 45 and over, 50 and over and this year for the first time ever a 55 and over category.
The Rapids have been playing over the summer against various men’s teams throughout Whitehorse.
The team has benefited from the training of Simon Pulido, who is also a member of the squad. The team usually practiced for about half an hour before every game, going through drills, strategy and conditioning. In addition to the games, the group also met every week for regular practices and all of its players were on teams in the men’s 35 and older league.
The team will feature 16 players, who range in age from 50 to 66 years old.
Shoniker said he is really looking forward to the tournament.
“A number of us, including myself, have coached and so we have had the opportunity to encourage the youth to go out and compete,“ he said. “So for me this is one of my opportunities to go out and do the same thing.“
Terry Markley is also a player on the Whitehorse Rapids that will be making the trip to Penticton. Markley said he expects the team to do well in B.C.
“Quite honestly, I think we are competitive from what I have seen before and we are hoping to make one of the two finals, the A or the B final, but of course we don’t know the calibre of the opposition,“ he said. “The games have been going well.“
Markley has participated in the Penticton Masters Invitational on two separate occasions, but said this is the first time that the Whitehorse Rapids squad will compete in it. Markley said his past involvement in the tournament was one of the reasons why he wanted to enter it this year.
“It’s a very good tournament,“ he said. “It’s a good way for older guys to stay in shape and play competitively, but at our level.“