Nanaimo minor soccer players had a chance to learn from an Olympic gold medallist, and even try some shootout attempts.
Stephanie Labbé, who backstopped Canada to gold at last year’s Summer Games in Tokyo, held a Champion Tour soccer camp Tuesday evening at Merle Logan Field for players U10 and up.
After some skills and drills, Labbé randomly chose 10 players to stare down in penalty kicks, and four girls managed to score on the world’s best.
Labbé, who recently retired from playing, told Nanaimo United FC minor soccer players about her personal soccer path, and told them that no one’s journey is easy. She said she wasn’t always picked for the team, wasn’t always chosen to be a starter, and she had to prove herself and believe in herself when others didn’t. At times her drive and passion waned, but through self-belief, work ethic and striving to be a good teammate, she found joy in the game again.
“Whatever you want to achieve, don’t let anyone tell you it’s impossible … Know that any dream is possible,” she said.
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