The Chomedey Tigresse U10 'A' D1 Girls Team capture the gold on Sunday June 7 in Boucherville
Published July 15 , 2009
By Martin C. Barry • TLN
The Chomedey Tigresse U10 'A' D1 Girls Team defeated the Express de Boucherville by a 4-2 score in the finals to capture the gold on Sunday June 7 on the Express’s home turf in Boucherville.
The game was “nothing short of spectacular plays with momentum continuously building with every Chomedey Tigresse player giving it her 100 per cent,” said Denise Diamantopoulos-Danielidis, manager of the Chomedey Tigresse team.
Parents devoted
According to Denise, the team has the most devoted and committed parents, most of whom have been with the Chomedey Tigresse since Tony Greco took over as coach back when the girls were seven years old. “Year after year, season after season including those hard winter nights, coach Greco and assistant coach Aret Culpak molded them by giving them the skills to succeed the way they should,” she said.
“We always had an objective which was all about building assertiveness and leadership in order to bring the individual players the top performance and confidence they needed. Also at the same time understanding the game of soccer that would empower them and bring them to the next level was our focus from the beginning of the 2009 summer soccer season. Our game-plan was laid out to all the girls back in April during our first team meeting of the season.
“Coach Greco's constant reminder was that, ‘there is not one player on this soccer team but 12, always remember this girls when you're on the field'. We have also had a strong assistant coach, Aret Culpak. Between the three leaders we have shown the girls that, yes, they absolutely can do it. Communication between players has always been a challenge and these girls showed us that our constant practices and drills have paid off.”
The girls are not only coached in soccer, but are taught sportsmanship and good conduct, which has been present at every game, added Denise. “When we move our team out of our league area in order to play in various tournaments throughout the province, we don't have to remind them about their conduct because it has been clearly expressed and understood by them,” she said. “This tournament was no exception. They made us all proud by showing all the five teams they played what a true soccer game and conduct are all about.
‘Laughter therapy’
“It was an unbelievable, memorable, stress-filled and euphoric weekend for all,” she said. “With plenty of 'laughter therapy,' coined by our manager throughout the tournament, to go around. The Team went undefeated with an excellent performance in the round-robin series to win 3-0 and finished first overall in their division. This moved them onto the semi-finals facing and defeating U10FA Brossard 5-2 and bringing them within 1 1/2 hours of the final game.”
As the tension mounted, Tony and Denise stayed focused, concentrating on the task at hand. The final win, the thrill of anticipation for the finals, was felt throughout the entire team and their families, as the clock ticked down. “The win was not far,” Denise said. “Facing the home team was not to be underestimated by any means and it was felt by everyone. Now it was up to the players.”
Victory awaited
According to Denise, communication, confidence and a true understanding between the players were the ingredients that resulted in the speed and domination by the Chomedey Tigresse in the game’s final moments. “As the clock ticked and the game moved on, their assertiveness kept growing to our breathtaking delight,” she said. “They could taste it now and wanted it badly. All they had to do was continue the plays and bring it home. They did. This was a true Team win with all positions being played to their top performance.”