LIHU‘E — A parent spent some time chatting with coach Kevin Devitt Tuesday while a field of soccer players went through warm-ups at the North Vidinha fields. “We’re getting more and more interest,” Devitt said following his conversation with the
LIHU‘E — A parent spent some time chatting with coach Kevin Devitt Tuesday while a field of soccer players went through warm-ups at the North Vidinha fields.
“We’re getting more and more interest,” Devitt said following his conversation with the parent interested in registering his child with the Garden Island Futbol Club and the Hawai‘i Rush Soccer Club program. “The Kaua‘i Soccer Association season starts Sept. 9 and we’re in the process of forming teams so if kids want to play, they can still come in.”
In June, GIFC and the Rush announced the partnerships of the two soccer clubs to provide another opportunity for GIFC players and coaches to further enhance their soccer skills and coaching capabilities.
“There’s going to be some bumps as we get the program going, but we are going to make it work,” Devitt said. “Right now, it looks like we’re going to have an under 16 team, a boys under 14 and a boys under 12 team, but we’re still accepting more kids.”
Devitt said people interested in the GIFC/Rush program can come out to the practices, which are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the North Vidinha fields.
“They can come either to train, or they can try and get on one of the teams,” Devitt said. “At any rate, we welcome soccer players.”
GIFC was established in 2007 by Devitt and coach Karl Ubongen with the motto of “to do what’s right for the players” and accepts all players, regardless of playing ability, according to the release announcing the GIFC and Rush partnership.
With the season at least a few weeks away, Devitt is anxious to get the new program going.
“Under the partnership and the rules of KSA and the Hawai‘i Youth Soccer Association, the teams now have the ability to inter-change players,” Devitt said. “The Hawai‘i Rush has players who want to play here so grandma and grandpa can see them play, and we have players who want to play off island too.”
He said the program already has good numbers and with the expanded coaching staff and programs it should develop quality soccer players and coaches.
The partnership with Hawai‘i Rush will offer players expanded training — both with teams and individually, in-state and Mainland opportunities for players and teams, an experienced coaching staff who will learn from each other and work together to help the players improve, and a club structure and atmosphere, which will promote positive growth and competition, the announcement states.
For more information on the GIFC/Rush program call Devitt at 645-1987 or email devittk001@hawaii.rr.com, or call Ubongen at 652-6927 or email kubongen@msn.com.
“Or, they can just drop by the practices on Tuesdays or Thursdays at the North Vidinha fields,” Devitt said. “We’re also looking at possibly starting some Saturday practices as well.”
•Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
