ROYSA Celebrates 2011 Soccer Season with Challenge Cup Tonight

This evening, more than 100 young soccer players will hear their names called by an announcer as they take the field at ’s stadium for the inaugural ROYSA Challenge Cup.

Billed as an end of the year celebration, the Challenge Cup consists of four soccer games with players from the U9-U12 divisions selected by their coaches and teammates based on talent, coachability and dedication to represent their team in these games.

“Playing on the big high school field is a real treat for the players – and coaches,” said Rick Saro of the Royal Oak Youth Soccer Association.

A really big treat indeed after struggling with soggy fields and knee-high grass during a very wet spring seasons that saw coaches get together to hand mow playing fields so games could go on.

“That’s a testimonial to the volunteer spirit of our organization,” said Kevin Russ, president of ROYSA. “We do whatever it takes.”

Cheryl Pehkohen of Madison Heights has been coaching soccer since her now 29-year-old son was 6 years old. The last of her children are out of high school now, but Pehkohen continues “for the love of coaching,” she said.

Pehkohen, who this season coached a U14 girls travel team, was selected by division managers to coach the U9-10 Red girls squad. “This is the first time I’ve been nominated,” she said. “I’m very excited.”

Pehkohen and her 13 players who come from several other teams were on the Ravens field Monday night getting to know each other and the field and running drills and plays. Her son, Nick Wiederhold, a 2001 Royal Oak graduate and coach of the boys and girls freshman soccer teams at the high school, was on hand helping with practice.

Doug Ammon was there for his daughter, Liz. “She’s excited they are going to announce her name on the big field,” he said as he watched the Keller Elementary third-grader run drills.

The players will get another thrill, tonight, too. “I’m sheepishly pushing the use of vuvuzelas,” Saro said. “I’ve got 200 coming in. We want to make a little noise.”

If you go

What: ROYSA 2011 Challenge Cup

Where: Ravens stadium at Royal Oak High School

Parking: Eastbound lanes of Normandy are under construction so there is no access to the Normandy parking lot from the west. There is limited access from the east. Additional parking is available on the Lexington and Crooks sides of the school.

Cost: free of charge

When:
5 p.m.: U9/10 Girls
6 p.m.: U9/U10 Coed
7 p.m.: U11/U12 Girls
8 p.m.: U11/U12 Coed