Kicking up a storm

KIRSTEN MURPHY

Two Nunavut teams captured silver medals at the 10th annual Super Soccer tournament in Yellowknife, May 2 to 5.

The 16-and-under boys and girls teams from Iqaluit, still reeling from the playoff games, had their sights set on gold but were pleased with silver.

“It was a lot of fun. This year we really concentrated on the game,” said Elaine Lloyd, 16. This was Lloyd’s fourth Super Soccer tournament.

Having recently returned from Nuuk, Greenland, where she played soccer for Team Nunavut in the Arctic Winter Games, Lloyd said she enjoyed the grind of playing six games but was nervous playing in front of large crowds. At the Super Soccer tournament, she was voted the most valuable player in the quarterfinal game against the NWT’s Fort Resolution.

Super Soccer is the biggest indoor soccer tournament in the North — attracting 150 teams from all three territories. Eight teams from Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Taloyoak and Iqaluit participated.

Levi Eegeesiak of Iqaluit was named most valuable player in the first of seven round-robin games.

“You just go out and have fun,” Eegeesiak said.

Fraser Oliver, chair of Super Soccer 2002, said all the Nunavut teams stood out.

“They were just the nicest kids. Sure they played really well but you’d see them on the bleachers or in the hallway and they were always smiling. Winning is great but as an organizer is nice to see real sportsmanship,” Oliver said.

He said plans for Super Soccer 2003 are already under way.