STOUGHTON — The town of Stoughton was filled with eager soccer players who came to take part in the annual fun tournament May 31 and June 1 at the Stoughton Fairgrounds.
This soccer tournament is one of the largest in Saskatchewan, with over 40 teams from the southeast joining in on the fun. Squads came from Stoughton, Carlyle, Carievale, Redvers, Vibank, Montmarte, Estevan, Kipling, Wawota, Indian Head and Weyburn.
The planning for this tournament begins in December, with letters sent out to area businesses searching for sponsorships.
The tournament is offered for free to the players and the sponsorships cover the expenses, including a goodie bag for players to enjoy.
The night before the tournament began, the wind shifted, bringing in heavy smoke from the wildfires in the north. Although the smoke was heavy, like a thick fog, precautions were taken so the kids could continue to play.
The parking lot and streets were filled with vehicles, and crowds sat along the sidelines to cheer on their teams.
Games began at 9 a.m. on May 31 with under-7, U9, U11 and U13 teams, while the U3-5s showed their skills at a special time. The following day, the U13-U18s played, giving players and fans plenty to cheer about.
A long list of referees, including older players, helped out for the two days.
Mickey and Joan Adams from Kenosee Lake came out to watch their granddaughter play for Kipling.
“This is a first-class tournament,” said Mickey, “And the facilities are awesome.”
Shanley Forsythe from Maryfield had her three sons playing for Redvers. It is their first year playing soccer and they loved the event.
“This is a well-organized tournament,” said Shanley. “It was a lot of fun for my boys.”
Throughout the tournament, 50/50 tickets were sold, and the pot of $1,615 was won by Staci Bokowski from the Montmarte Soccer Club. Bokowski is the coach for the town's U9 team.
