September 8, 2008

Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in partnership with the British Columbia Soccer Association (BCSA), will officially transition the Thompson Okanagan Super Y League team to Okanagan WFC (Okanagan Whitecaps Football Club), a Whitecaps BCSA Super Y-League affiliate, for the 2009 season.

"The Whitecaps and BCSA are very respectful of the work that has been done by Kelowna United most recently on the Super Y-League program. Our goal is to help enhance and grow the program by creating a partnership that provides even greater opportunities for Okanagan players, and benefits the Thompson Okanagan as a whole by connecting it to a larger vision as part of the Whitecaps FC network and BCSA regional District Development Centre model.“
— Whitecaps Youth Director Dan Lenarduzzi

"We‘re very excited to work with our partners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, on the latest addition to the WFC Super Y-League affiliate program. We hope to create the same synergy of partnership and governance with our member associations and clubs in the Thompson Okanagan that has occurred with our current WFC affiliates in other areas of BC.“ — BCSA executive director Bjorn Osieck.

NEW STRUCTURE

The Whitecaps FC and BCSA are developing a new regional approach to how the Super Y League (SYL) will operate for the 2009 season.

After holding recent regional meetings, the Whitecaps FC and BCSA will finalize details over the next two weeks for Okanagan WFC to operate as a partnership between Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (COYSA), North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (NOYSA), and South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association (SOYSA). There are also discussions with Shuswap Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) and Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA).

Within these two weeks the following will be put in place:

• A SYL affiliate operating committee will be formed with representatives from each of the associations to guide the implementation of the Okanagan WFC Affiliate.
• A SYL affiliate General Manager GM, and Technical Director TD will be hired.

Together under the approval of the operating committee, the GM and TD will recruit coaching and administrative staff to support the development of Okanagan WFC.

Players must pre-register on-line for the evaluations. Evaluation space is limited so register early!
For information and registration visit www.okanaganwfc.com or email info@okanaganwfc.com