Atlético Ottawa duo Zachary Roy and Junior Agyekum took a trip down to Cornwall, ON, to pay a visit to one of the latest additions to our ‘Powered by Atlético Ottawa’ Program, Seaway Valley Soccer Club.

Earlier this season Atlético duo Roy and Junior hopped in the car and travelled over an hour to see one of our partnered youth clubs in Cornwall. The ‘Powered by Atlético Ottawa’ Program is a crucial element of our mission to grow soccer at the grassroots level in the Nations, Capital and beyond, and players taking time out of their busy schedules to meet the kids underpins the effort.

“We were so impressed by Junior and Zach,” said a brimming Ed Irvine, Technical Director of Seaway Valley Soccer Club following the visit. “For young guys, they were so generous with their attention and involvement with our kids. Bringing an experience like this, for them to meet professional soccer players playing in our region inspires and encourages our next generation to fall in love with the game both as players and fans.”

Seaway Valley Soccer Club was founded in 2008 but can trace its origins back to the 1970s as a community-based and focused organization that provides opportunities to individuals of all ages and skill levels. The club, however, is still committed to the development of players and coaches so a partnership with Atlético was a logical decision according to Ed.

“This connection gives us access to professional expertise including input and collaboration on club-based training development,” he said. “Working with a world-renowned soccer brand such as Atlético de Madrid, with rights to use the brand and visual identity of Atletico Ottawa to promote and market our programs will be huge for us. We hope for a future possibility for a high-performance track with access to player identification camps and a path to the academy.”

In fact, although they are new to the Powered By Program no time has been in implementing some of the benefits that come with the affiliation. Atlético de Madrid, through Atlético Ottawa, will be hosting a summer training camp for Seaway Valley which came as a pleasant surprise as “given the size and location of our club” Ed was left “so impressed with the time and attention we have been given as a partner, and the initiatives we have in place so far have solidified our partnership.”

Atlético Ottawa will be hosting a group from Seaway Valley Soccer Club at our match this weekend, as we look to find a home for Bruce of the Eastern Ontario Potcake Rescue – an organization we have worked with for three years now. You can join the passionate group from Seaway Valley and support Bruce’s efforts to find a home by getting your ticket here.