KCC Team Storms Kansas ...Again! - 05/05/2010
For the second year running, Knowsley Community College Sport students have triumphed as winners of a ten day football tournament in Wichita, Kansas.
The trip was a ten day stay with students staying in pairs with a host family. It incorporated spending time with families to experience a different culture, as well as visiting educational establishments and playing soccer in the tournament.
Knowsley were in a group of three teams where the winners and runners up of the group progressed to the semi-final. The first game was against Newton FC, a local team, and Knowsley ran out comfortable winners at 13-0(!), with an excellent performance.
The second game was against Wichita Thunder, the third best team in the state of Kansas. The game was played in a competitive manner and showed the game of soccer in a great light. Knowsley lost the game 2-1 and finished the group in second place to progress to the semi-finals.
The semi-final game was a must win, and Knowsley ran out 3-0 winners with an excellent performance to progress to the final and play the team they lost to in the early group stage.
The final was a close game and was just edged by Knowsley to win 1-0. Chances went to either side, with goalkeeper Alan Kearney making an excellent save in the last minute to win Knowsley the tournament.
However this is not where the success ended, seven players were also offered scholarships to play in the US . College Principal, Frank Gill, stated, “ We are absolutely delighted at the success of the football squad, especially as this is the second year running that the College has won this tournament. This was an extremely challenging competition involving elite players from universities and colleges in the USA. To undertake a long flight, play a series of warm up matches and then to compete successfully in a group stage, a semi final and a very competitive final is a great tribute to the skills and fitness of the College footballers and to the coaching skills of our staff. The fact that 10 offers of scholarships to play and study in the States were made to members of the squad underlines the quality of their football. These students have proved to be wonderful ambassadors for Knowsley Community College and the local area both on and off the field. ”
