Even with an Olympics-berth deciding game on their hands, the players of Canada’s national women’s soccer team sneaked in time to give back to their community.
They dropped by to watch and encourage players from the Homeless World Cup team Thursday morning during their training at Andy Livingston Park.
Paula Armstrong, a player on the women’s street soccer team, said it meant a lot to them to meet the players from Team Canada.
“It’s out of this world,” she said. “It’s beyond anything I could’ve imagined coming from the Downtown Eastside and being involved with drugs and poverty.”
Omar Duran, who dropped in to play with his friends on the street soccer team, said the unexpected visitors distracted him from the morning scrimmage.
“They were all very friendly and nice,” he said. “They’re telling us they were nervous for (the game against Mexico), and excited as well.”
“I had my heart divided because I’m Canadian and Mexican,” Duran added. “I told them that and they were like, ‘You have to decide if you’re going to cheer for Canada or Mexico.’ In the end, they won my heart and I’m going to cheer for Canada.”
North Delta’s Chelsea Buckland, a forward for the national team, said the team is in a positive mindset and pumped up to play on Friday.
“There’s definitely the pressure of playing against a great Mexico squad,” she said. “Their fan base is going to be up to par with our Canadian fans.”
“This is do-or-die,” Buckland added. “We’re going to put everything on the line because this is it. This game is the determination if we go to the Olympics or not.”
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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