April 14 Home Opener: Meet Suka, Kate, and Larissa

Today’s home opener and Club Night is going to be extra special for three of our BCPL players. Not only is it their first time in front of a home crowd this year, it will be their first time playing in front of the BCSPL teams that they coach. Larissa Stefanek and Kate Reynolds coach NUFC’s 2011 girls and Hussein (Suka) Behery coaches the 2010 boys.

All six of our BCSPL* teams will be attending the Whitecaps and Rise FC games today instead of training and will be analyzing the game. The BCSPL is also part of the player pathway that leads into the BCPL, so our coaches felt passionate about showing them what the next level looks like.

* BC Soccer Premier League - the highest tier (tier 1) of youth soccer in BC. Teams play in a province-wide league and club standards are set by Canada Soccer.

Larissa Sefanek:

I think the main purpose of Club Night is to show youth players that there is a very direct pathway to a high level of soccer in BC right here at Nanaimo United. I’m very excited for some of our 2011 BCSPL girls to be there. We're often telling them a great way to learn about the game is to watch soccer, whether it’s on TV or in person so this is a perfect opportunity.

Last season I was asked to help out with the team and immediately felt like we had a special group of players. They are coachable, positive, dedicated and have absolutely bought into the challenge of competing in the BCSPL. I feel so lucky to work with this specific group of athletes 4 times a week. This season we recruited Kate to join the coaching staff! She’s brought a wealth of game knowledge through playing experience which is so helpful when coaching the tactical side of the game and growing the players soccer IQ.

Last year I completed the C Diploma coaching course and I recently got accepted into the B Diploma which starts this summer! I was a bit apprehensive going into the C Diploma since it sounds intimidating but I really enjoyed learning coaching techniques and strategies in a formal setting which is making me look forward to this summer. Nanaimo United is very supportive with coach education, it’s encouraging to have so many mentors I can reach out to for advice if needed.

Captain Kate Reynolds picking her side.

Kate Reynolds:

I think it’s really special to play in front of the girls we coach; not a lot of young players have the ability to go watch their coaches play for the same club that they play for! Larissa and I both play center back so the girls are able to see how we work together and communicate in a different setting! Most of the girls have already watched us play on the Premier team but this feels a lot more special to me! It’s also super cool that they can see the Vancouver Rise girls play since they are only a few years older than them and most of those girls came through BCSPL teams as well!

Bobbie Taylor asked me to help out Larissa this year and I thought it was the perfect fit as we’ve been playing together for over 10 years. This is my first time as an assistant coach and I’ve learnt SO much over the past 8 months, I feel very fortunate to coach alongside one of my closest friends.

​​I am currently just starting my coaching certifications! I'm doing my “Soccer for Life” at the end of May. But I helped film for Larissa when she was doing her “C” license and it was a super cool opportunity to see. It’s definitely something I will consider taking in the future.

From left to right: Bronte Fitzsimmons, Taylor Kinley, Kate Reynolds, Mary Nicholls.

Hussein (Suka) Behery:

​​I wanted to coach BCSPL because other than playing, coaching is my passion. And my passion isn't just coaching - it's coaching the best level of players, and that is what BCSPL allows me to do. I currently have my C license and applied for my B diploma. It's pretty cool - I get to coach tier 1 players and also get to play at a high level in front of them. It's cool I can relate to them and they can relate to me.

Hussein (Suka) Behery

Let’s celebrate our BCPL teams tonight as they go up against the Whitecaps and Rise FC Academies! Club Night starts with the women’s kick-off at 5:30 PM on Merle Logan. The men follow at 6 PM on the Second Artificial Turf. Two games side-by-side - it’s going to be a show! 

Unleashed dogs, the best hot dogs in town, will be there and so will a collection of our community partners. Be sure to visit the community partner booths while you’re waiting for the games to start. We will have a FunZone for our youngsters, weather permitting.

See you at the turfs!