BY LAUREL MYERS
The Sudbury Panhellenic Soccer Club will be hosting its 10th annual tournament from July 25-27.
The tournament will tentatively feature 80 teams from across the province, as well as a team from Quebec. Games will take place at fields across the city, including Laurentian University, James Jerome Sports Complex (formerly Lily Creek), Lasalle Secondary School, Delki Dozzi Sports Complex, Sacre Coeur Field and the Kinsmen (formerly Hillcrest Complex).
Public relations representative and one of the tournament's founders, Fabio Belli, said there may be up to 90 teams when all registrations are finalized.
Belli has been with the tournament since it began 10 years ago, hosting only 21 teams on only one field.
"It seems like only yesterday when we began hosting this tournament," he said. "Each year we try to improve the tournament to make it better."
The tournament is the largest of its kind in northern Ontario, and the tournament's executive are hoping it will continue to grow in years to come.
"We've been able to get feedback from teams that just keep coming back year after year because of the quality of the tournament and the hospitality we give all the teams," Belli said. "Even with the cost of travelling, we still have teams that come, no matter what."
The tournament also coincides with Sudbury's Greek festival, another drawing point for visitors to the city.
Guiseppe Politi is the Sudbury Panhellenic Soccer Club head coach and participated in the first tournament in 1998 and has since participated as a referee and coach.
"Looking back it's always been a positive experience, challenging at times throughout the games, but it's always a good weekend," he said. "The tournament is, without a question, the Sudbury soccer weekend with players, spectators and coaches from all across the province.
"I hope all the teams in the tournament are greeted and
impressed by true sportsmanship, a healthy spirit of
competition and quality soccer," he added.
Watch NorthernLife.ca for updates on the tournament.
