A soccer team from Central Alberta is preparing to head overseas to compete in one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the world.
The Ponoka Storm U15 Girls will take part in the IberCup in Estoril, Portugal, from July 1 to 7, 2025.
The group of 16 has been fundraising for the trip over the past couple of years, participating in various bottle drives and raffles.
Head coach Lonny Behm explained the motivation behind their mission.
“We know in Canada that the dropout rate for female athletes is 1 in 3, compared to about 1 in 10 for males,” he said. “So, we kind of wanted to see how we can keep kids involved, especially females, in the sport.”
Most of the team has been together since U9 and has seen significant success over the years. Some of the girls have played together since they were five years old and are now competing at the Tier 2 provincial level.
The Ponoka Storm is made up of athletes from six small Central Alberta communities: Ponoka, Lacombe, Stettler, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, and Camrose.
Some of the highlights from over the years include winning gold at the U13 Tier 3 Outdoor Provincials and silver at the U15 Tier 2 Indoor 2025 Provincials.
Behm said the girls will play between four and eight games while they are in Portugal.
In addition to the tournament matches, the team will receive a training session from Benfica, one of Portugal’s top professional clubs, and will enjoy sightseeing and beach outings during their week-long stay.
For many of the players, this will be their first time traveling internationally.
Including players, parents, and siblings, a total of about 34 people will make the 12-hour trip.
“It’s going to be their first national trip,” said Behm. “They’re used to the tournament demands, but obviously going overseas and being able to represent the communities you’re from, the province you’re from— and right now, we’re one of the only Canadian teams registered in the U15 group— so they’re kind of pumped about that.”
The players will be receiving Alberta pins from MLA Jennifer Johnson to trade with international teams.
In addition to their competitive success, the girls have been active in giving back to their communities. They’ve run soccer camps and volunteered their time to mentor younger players, demonstrating their commitment to the growth of the sport.
"They realize they’re one of the higher-level teams in Central Alberta," added Behm. "They love giving back to the younger kids."
The upcoming season gets underway for the Storm at the beginning of May.
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