KALAHEO — A couple of young soccer players from Kauai will head to Spain to test their skills.
Nicholas Semblante, of Waimea High School, and Whitney Lugo, of Kauai High, will join youth club Honolulu Bulls SC and compete in the Donosti Cup, an international tournament in San Sebastián, Spain.
The two also play for local club Onipa’a.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet. But I know for sure when I get on the plane, it’s going to be like, ‘Whoa. I’m going to be in another country for like two or three weeks,’” Lugo said Thursday. “I know I’m going to be missing my friends and family, especially my girlfriend. … But, it’s going to be a good experience going to a whole new place and meet new people.”
He added: “I’ve played with the Bulls before, but I haven’t been to a place that’s dedicated to soccer, where soccer is their life. So, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a different experience than from what I’m going to expect. Here (in Hawaii), football is our main thing. There, soccer is what they do.”
The tournament will begin July 1. Hundreds of teams from about 40 countries will compete, according to Onipa’a coach Ramon Semblante.
Honolulu Bulls SC will compete in the Clubs B-16 division and is one of just six clubs from the United States in the division. There are about 60 clubs total in the division.
For Lugo, 16, who plays goalkeeper and striker for Kauai High School, this will be a homecoming of sorts as his family is from Spain.
“This is my first time going there,” Lugo said. “We’re from the town of Lugo. We’re hoping we can go there.”
He added he hopes to improve on playing goalkeeper.
Semblante, 16, is a midfielder for Waimea High School. He said this will be the first time playing in another country since playing the the Philippines when he was younger.
“It’s going to feel great getting to play with different players,” Semblante said. “Different players, but at my level. … It’s going to be more challenging.”
Semblante simply wants to improve as a player.
“I hope it helps me get prepared for the high school level. I think I can improve a lot,” he said.
The boys will also scrimmage with Spanish club Atlètic Segre prior to the tournament, coach Ramon Semblante said.
