FUTSAL MAKES ITS SASKATCHEWAN GAMES DEBUT AT THE 2023 SASKATCHEWAN WINTER GAMES IN REGINA
Regina, SK (February 23, 2023) – The second half of the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games in Regina presented by Teine Energy officially started with a bang as Futsal debuted on Thursday morning at 9 AM. This historic event marked the first time that Futsal was included in the Saskatchewan Games, and the matches did not disappoint!
The inaugural game saw Team Saskatoon play Team Parkland Valley on Court 1 at the new Avana Centre at Real District. Ololade Olaleye, a 14-year-old from Parkland Valley who lives in Yorkton, SK, made history by scoring the first-ever Futsal goal at the Saskatchewan Winter Games. Olaleye displayed excellent skills and sportsmanship throughout the game, and his performance was a testament to the developing sport in the province.
At 9:15 AM, the females from Parkland Valley and Regina #1 played on Court 2. In a nail-biting finish, Saskatoon emerged as the winners in the male game with a score of 5-4 and Regina took the female game 7-4. Futsal competition will continue at the Avana Centre through Saturday, February 25.
Futsal, a variant of soccer played on a smaller indoor court with five players, has been growing in popularity across Canada, and its inclusion in the Saskatchewan Winter Games highlights its increasing significance in the sport. The games provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their abilities and compete at a high level, inspiring the next generation of athletes in the province.
The Saskatchewan Winter Games second half features futsal as one of its headline events, alongside cross country skiing, figure skating, judo, target shooting, and wrestling.
QUOTES:
"It feels great to score the first-ever goal in Futsal, I wanted to keep scoring more! A guy had the ball on the side and I took it off him. It was just me and the keeper, [then] I just put it in.” – Ololade Olaleye, Team Parkland Valley athlete.
“For these kids to represent Parkland Valley, it’s super exciting! It was really special for us to score the first goal for these games, we have been playing Futsal in Yorkton for over 8 years now. We’re happy with the effort of everyone involved and how all the teams are getting along in the dorms and on the field.” -- Mike Schneider, Coach of Team Parkland Valley Men’s Futsal.
"Having Futsal in the Winter Games for the first time is a great platform for us to showcase Futsal to a lot of new people as we look to grow the game in the province.” – Markus Reinkens, Manager, Player and Coach Development for Saskatchewan Soccer.
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About the Saskatchewan Games: First established in 1972, the purpose of the Saskatchewan Games is to provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition. Countless Saskatchewan Games alumni have advanced to competition at the national level and beyond, with Olympians such as Sandra Schmirler, Colleen Sostorics, Emily Clarke, and Lucas Makowsky counting the Saskatchewan Winter Games as a key step in their journey to the highest levels of sport. The Saskatchewan Games also leave behind valuable legacies that benefit each host community for years to come. To learn more, visit http://www.saskgames.ca.
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