The World Soccer Academy (WSA) in Winnipeg is not your average soccer club. Players who train at WSA experience the highest level of soccer instruction and coaching in the area. A few former WSA players have even gone on to professional soccer careers.
Coach Michael Pansini says the U15 boys WSA team plays at that high level and continues to improve every year. Their training focuses on technique, tactics and vision. Most of the team has been playing together since age eight, and some as early as age four. Coach says, “their playing chemistry is very much in synch.”
CELEBRATING A RECENT WIN
The team is enjoying being back at Target USA CUP. We wanted to know what brings them back to the tournament year after year and coach Pansini says, “It’s the competition here; they get to play teams they’ve never played before. They also take it as a vacation. The players like the activities including the pin exchange.”
When asked what’s on the horizon for the team, he says, “There are some players on this team that have the potential to play at a different level. Some of them are looking at playing soccer in college, some are looking at PDL in Canada. We’ll continue to seek out great competition to improve. We have a trip planned to play in Italy in 2023, and we are also interested in playing in Spain.
AZAR EL KHALLAA, CAPTAIN
To stay successful on the field, team captain Azar El Khallaa says, “We think and act the same way in certain situations.” He says it in a way that’s a driving force for their competitive play. Parent Dorcas Akpabio states that “the WSA U15 boys have come a long way. They have strived, learned and submitted themselves to training day after day, season after season without giving up hope. I will not be surprised to see them take the Cup. They deserve it.” Parent Samir agrees, “The WSA U15 boys are playing with passion, commitment, and aggressiveness. These qualities can make them go far in the competition and win the trophy. We are wishing them good luck and thumbs up in their efforts