FIFA Recognitions

The British Columbia Soccer Association is pleased to recognize the following British Columbia officials that have been included in the FIFA International List of Match Officials for 2007.

Mauricio Navarro

Paul Ward

Michelle Pye

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This year we are please to present 8 Awards of Merit for 2006.

Recipient:                                  Jane Blair

Nominated by:                           Fraser Valley Youth Soccer Association

Back in 1994, Jane was a soccer mom looking to make a difference. She soon volunteered for the Fraser Valley Youth Soccer Board as the league scheduler. Her meticulous ways soon found her doing schedules for several leagues around the Lower Mainland until this past season when she retired leaving the soccer community looking for a formidable replacement. She continues to be a true leader at Fraser Valley Youth Soccer.

Recipient:                                  Sue Baxter

Nominated by:                           South District Girls Soccer Association

For over 17 years, Sue Baxter has been known as the “get it done” person for Semiahmoo Soccer Club. Sue has been the only full-time Registrar for Semiahmoo Soccer Club and during her 17 years has seen the Club’s registration grow from virtually nothing to more than 1,100 girls and women. Countless hours, personal requirements and business obligations have never deterred Sue’s commitment to youth and the game of soccer.

Recipient:                                  Mike Cochrane

Nominated by:                           Oceanside Youth Soccer

Mike has been involved with soccer since his youth. As an independent business man, Mike took time to coach his children through their youth. Mike quickly became involved with the local club, Oceanside early on. He occupied most positions on the Oceanside Board of Directors and is still a critical part of the club. Through his term, the Oceanside club membership has more than doubled in size. He is currently also Director of the Nanaimo and District Youth Soccer Association. Mike has given freely and selflessly of himself for local soccer and the community.

Nominated by:                           Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association

Willie has been a permanent fixture in Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association, a volunteer, face and name to relate to youth soccer and most recently as an Administrator. He began organizing soccer camps and coaches clinics to promote grassroots development. He will continue to offer this guidance to the next Administrator when he retires after 23 years of commitment.  Willie's shoes will be hard to fill.

Nominated by:                 Surrey Metro Soccer Association

After 12 years, Tom still lines Soccer fields, every weekend. He also opens the Clubs Container for nets, every Saturday and Sunday.  He is still involved with handing out and collecting team uniforms at the start and end of the soccer season. Tom can be found on the Surrey United home fields every weekend watching games, from the Mini programs to the Youth and Senior programs. Even though Tom’s children have moved on from youth soccer, Tom still coaches a Youth girl’s team. Tom Duncan is the ultimate hands on executive, of Surrey United soccer.

Recipient:                        Reg Haggard

Nominated by:                 One Hundred Mile House Soccer Association

Reg Haggard has been instrumental in growing the soccer movement in 100 Mile House from its infancy to an Association that now serves between 500 and 700 youth soccer players. When Reg started in the early 90’s, soccer was not very big in 100 Mile House.

Reg was also involved in the administration end of the district when he took the post of Vice President for a term. While now retired, the Executive feels that among many other volunteers, past and present, Reg was the one that, through his love for the game and the kids alike was a leading force in getting the program where it is now.

Recipient:                        Keith Smith

Nominated by:                 Vancouver Island Soccer League

Keith Smith has been involved in the Victoria soccer community for more than 35 years in a variety of capacities. Keith has served on the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Board of Directors for more than 15 years as the Treasurer.  Through this he has contributed his skills as an accountant while also providing expertise based on his experiences as a coach and player. Keith he works tirelessly for our sport and is involved with many areas of the soccer. 

Recipient:                        Ruben Tremarco

Nominated by:                 Vancouver Metro Soccer League

Ruben Tremarco has been a member of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League executive board for the last 19 years. In 1997 he was appointed Game Scheduler – one of the most thankless positions imaginable! For the last 8 years Tremarco has done a remarkable job in scheduling thousands and thousands of games in weather conditions that are often intolerable. His tireless work ethic, his devotion to soccer in general and to the VMSL in particular, his common sense approach to most difficult situations, his strong will approach to absurd requests, and his unwavering commitment to his all-important position are the reasons Ruben Tremarco is honoured for the annual award of merit.   

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Board of Directors Coach Award

Presented to a coach who has made notable contributions to their particular field of expertise

Recipient:                        Steve Kindel

Steve Kindel successfully coached the Surrey United Women’s Team to victory at the Senior National Championships in October. In addition to his success as a Senior Women’s coach Steve is a player with the Whitecaps FC, 2006 United Soccer League Champions, and he still manages to find time to be involved with youth soccer as the Head Coach for the Dunbar Soccer Association.

Board of Directors Administrators Award

Presented to an administrator who has made notable contributions to their particular field of expertise

Recipient:                        Roy Mitchell                            

Roy began his soccer involvement while coaching with Riverdale Soccer Club, in Surrey in 1982. From 1992-2005 he served as Chairperson of Surrey Youth Soccer Association. Surrey Youth went from 1250 members to 3000 members under Roy’s leadership. He is the founding Director of Surrey Metro Soccer Association in 1996 and Founding Member of the South District Girls Soccer Association.

Presented to a referee who has made notable contributions to their particular field of expertise

Recipient:                        Elvio Chies                    

Elvio Chies has been a prominent figure in referring for over two decades. He first obtained his youth referee ticket in 1981. By 1989 he was the Referee Coordinator for the Vancouver Youth Soccer Association. He served on the executive on the BC Soccer Referee’s Association in many capacities before becoming president in 2002, a role he still continues now. In 2004 Elvio was upgraded to a Provincial Class 1 certification and was a Local Referee Liaison for the 2004 World Cup Qualifying.

Presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievements in officiating at the provincial level

Recipient:                        Natasha Smith               

Natasha is a 16 year-old grade 11 student at D.W. Poppy secondary School. Like her two older brothers, Natasha started refereeing at the age of 12. Over the past four years Natasha has refereed over 300 Games. This past spring Natasha decided to work towards her class 3 designation. She was invited to attend the BC Summer games in Kamloops this summer where she was assessed and mentored on every game she worked. She is one of 6 referees included in Langley’s elite referee program.

Recipient:                        Robin Woods                         

Nominated by:                 BCSA Board of Directors          

Award Presented by:        Rob Lennox

Robin has been involved in Soccer for 30 odd years since the late 1970’s, first as a Coach then quickly becoming a Referee.  He attended Shawnigan Lake Academy achieving his Class 3 designation in 1990 and again in 2005. He is currently a nominated Class 2 referee.

A long serving Director of the North Shore Youth Soccer Association he is currently the Treasurer of the B. C. Soccer Referees Association. He has done, and continues to do, a tremendous job in developing and mentoring young and upcoming officials.

Presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievements in coaching at a provincial or national level of competition

Recipient:                        Orlando Mauro              

Nominated by:                  Prince George Youth Soccer Association

Orlando Mauro has been a youth coach for Prince George Youth Soccer Association for the past 7 years.  He has coached mini’s and now is one of the Allstar Coaches. In addition to being a great technical coach, Orlando’s passion for the game of soccer is also handed down to his boys. His commitment to soccer has inspired his players to train year round and some have even given up hockey. Not only is he a coach with the PGYSA he is also the assistant coach with the newly Men’s soccer team at UNBC.

Senior Coach of the Year
Presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievements in coaching at a provincial or national level of competition. 

Recipient:                        Renzo Pierotti/Brian Wevers                              

Nominated by:                 Vancouver Metro Soccer Association

In 1994, Bryan Wevers, Kevin Hearne and Don Smith established the Sapperton Rovers F.C.

In 2000, Bryan Wevers took over as coach of the Sapperton Premier team and established a new developmental team in the CAT league. As well, Sapperton established a working relationship with the Royal City Youth Soccer Association to assist in the development of local players and their graduation into the senior men’s level.

In 2005, Renzo Pierotti was brought in to co-coach alongside Bryan. Renzo played professionally in Italy before coming to Canada in 1981.

In 2002 and 2005, Sapperton reached the semi-finals in the Provincial Cup.

In May, 2006, Sapperton claimed its 1^st Provincial title with a 1-0 victory in the finals against Firefighters FC.

President’s Award
Select by the BCSA President each year and presented to a league, district, or club in recognition of exceptional achievement in the presentation of a community event. 

Recipient                         South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association

Accepting:                       Ray Hintz, Head Coach of South Okanagan Youth Soccer

South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association is receiving this award for their very successful hosting of the Youth Provincial Championships BCSA Cup for Girls U12 – U15 in 2006.

Youth Athlete of the Year
Presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievements at the provincial, national or international level. 

Recipient:                                           Marcus Haber                          

Nominated by:                                     The BCSA Board of Directors

Marcus Haber  is one the country's top prospects. He played at the Dunbar Soccer Club until the age of 11, and then played at U14 Vancouver Selects as underage player up until U18. He was a Member of U14, U15 and U16 BC Provincial team that won the All Star National Championship 2005. He was also a Member of U17 Vancouver Whitecaps/Provincial team. He is a Past member of U17 Canadian Men's National Team, and a Current member of the U18 Canadian Men's National Team.

Marcus is currently playing for the U19 Youth Team for FC Groningen, a Premier Club in the Netherlands.

His National Team Highlights included playing in all three games of the 2005 CONCACAF U17 Qualifications and scoring one goal against Haiti at the final round of Qualification.

Marcus is unable to be here to accept this award due to his commitments with FC Groningen

Senior Athlete of the Year
Presented to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievements at the provincial, national or international level. 

Recipient:                        Christine Sinclair

Nominated by:                 BCSA Board of Directors

Award Presented by:        Steve Reed

Sinclair proved herself to be a potential star from childhood, as she was first selected to British Columbia's under-14 girls' all-star team at age 11. She went on to lead club teams to six league titles, five provincial titles, and two top-five national finishes, as well as leading her high school team at Burnaby South Secondary School to three league championships. In 2001, she arrived at the University of Portland, and made an immediate impact on that already-strong program.

Her 2005 senior season at Portland proved to be historic, as she set an all-time Division I goal-scoring record with 39. She also won the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy, becoming only the fourth player and third woman to win it in back-to-back years.

Her accomplishments continued in 2006. She was named the 2006 top female college athlete of the year, NCAA’s best female athlete of the year and was 1 of  only 20 women short listed for the FIFA 2006 Female Player of the Year. When she joined the Womens Vancouver Whitecaps last season she played an integral part in their W-league crown and was named the W-League Championship Tournament MVP.

Christine Sinclair is the second highest goal scorer in Canadian Women Soccer history.

A.C. Sanford Award
Presented to an individual in recognition of exceptional service to soccer in British Columbia over a long period of time. This award is named after Aubrey Sanford whose soccer career as player, manager, and administrator spanned more than five decades. Except for his years as a star goalkeeper for the New Westminster Royals, he did most of his work for the game quietly, behind the scenes, as he “didn’t care much for the limelight…” Aubrey was voted “Canada’s Best Goalkeeper of the Half-Century” in 1951.

Recipient:                        Bob Allen

Nominated by:                  Vancouver Metro Soccer League

Bob Allen’s involvement in soccer spans over 50 years. He began playing in the 1950’s for a local Vancouver team where he participated in the first Sun Tournament of Champions. By the 1960’s Bob was playing as an adult for the Vancouver Canadians, and the Vancouver Firefighters. In 1973 the Vancouver Firefighters, won team of the year at the “BC Athletes of the Year” awards.

Bob was equally involved in the game at the officiating level. He has refereed at virtually all levels of the game since the 1960’s and was a recipient of the Official of the Year award in 1985.

In 1985 Bob served as the Vice President of the BCSA and as a director from 1987-1996. He was further appointed to the Fellowship Member of the Canadian Soccer Association Alumni. His longstanding dedication continues as he still remains a director of the VMSL since 2001.