As turns out, the answer to all of it was literally ‘right now’.
And were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, the MJSA would be well on their way when it comes to the Moose Jaw Celtic program and preparations for their first trip overseas.
“It’s been a lot bigger than we anticipated for that, I don’t think we quite understood the gravity of the partnership of ourselves, to be honest,” MJSA technical director Jordan Jeffery said with a laugh during a free soccer camp on Saturday afternoon. “So many things have been happening and could have happened, and Moose Jaw has been fantastic in its reception. The feedback from people who aren’t even in soccer are congratulating us on the opportunities we can provide local players.”
Where to start?
With no pandemic, two younger teams would be training to travel to a Celtic-sponsored development camp in the United States, likely in New York. Coaches from Celtic FC would have visited the city twice already, once for a week-long camp in addition to a coach visiting to work with local club players. And the aforementioned trip to Glasgow would be well into its planning stages.
“We had a lot of goals this year, the whole program was mapped out for the last three years,” Jeffery said. “Now it’s completely different, the three year aims are now five, because we don’t know when we can even do the first year.”
As it stands, things get going in earnest on Sunday afternoon as the first try-out camp for Moose Jaw Celtic will be taking place. The event – for players in the 2003 to 2005 age group – will take open with a parent-player meeting and practice from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as a practice and game from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sunningdale.
That group will help form the core of the first team and individuals to make the journey to Glasgow, as well as joining the Elite Player program and Player Development programs, each helping youngsters on their journey to play the highest level of soccer possible in the province and beyond.
The program hasn’t gone unnoticed outside of Moose Jaw, either. Players have to join the MJSA first and foremost, and that has led to a handful from out-of-town already billeting here in Moose Jaw in order to have a chance to play in the Moose Jaw FC and Celtic programs.
Interest has even come from Calgary and Manitoba, with players considering the move just for the opportunity.
“So there’s a lot of opportunities there for players to see some high-level soccer as well as seeing our programs continue to grow,” Jeffery said.
Beyond the first tryout, plans are being worked on to have a Celtic FC coach make the journey to Moose Jaw in the near future, as soon as international travel is allowed.
“As soon as it’s safe and as soon as a coach from Glasgow doesn’t have to quarantine for two weeks, we’ll have someone come over for a week as well to do some work with our players and coaches and bringing everything together,” Jeffery said. “We have our bases covered, we just have to wait until that quarantine procedure has stopped.”
The good thing is things are happening, albeit slowly. And it won’t be long before the tangible effects are felt.
“So there’s so much opportunity, there’s a carrot being dangled in front of us but we just can’t have it right now,” Jeffery said. “But the excitement is building for it, and the enjoyment factor will just grow until we can actually have it all happen.”
Check out the Moose Jaw Soccer Association Facebook page for the latest information.
