By Dan Marshall

Nanaimo soccer players help Danish school to World Cup tournament

Apr 4, 2019 | 10:31 AM

NANAIMO — A tweet from BC Soccer in 2018 changed life significantly for the Krynowsky family.

Lynn Krynowsky read about an opportunity for Canadian youth soccer players to join a strong school program in Denmark for one year. She thought it would be a perfect fit for her daughter Claire, who at the time was playing for the Vancouver Island Wave of the BCSPL. Claire was interested but wanted her long time friend and teammate Kai Belbin to go with her. Once the families had dealt with the particulars the Nanaimo girls went off to join the Efterskole Ved Nyborg high school on August 9, 2018.

In all six Canadians are playing this season on the EVN team and they are all from Vancouver Island. The other four girls are from the north island and between 15 to 16-years-old.

Lynn says for Claire and the rest of the girls it’s a boarding school experience with a focus on soccer.

“They’re doing a lot of Canadian learning at home but they’re also doing some of the Danish classes. They train six days a week and they also have a strength program. They get up in the morning, have breakfast, go to soccer, then strength training and they go to classes.” said Krynowsky.

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Claire and her EVN girls team are one of 16 clubs qualified for the 2019 ISF World Schools Football Championship which is being held in Serbia.

The 16-year-old says she’s had a lot of fun traveling and playing against so many other different teams.

“We’ve been undefeated so far this season, but it hasn’t came all easy, especially our qualifying match to the (World Cup) in Serbia which we won,” explained Krynowsky It was a big deal to just make it to the (World Cup) and we’re all very excited and ready to play and represent Denmark.”  

The EVN school made it the 2017 event as well where they finished fifth. The 2019 competition will be from April 6-14 and Claire’s parents will be making the trip to Serbia to watch her play.

Even though the championship hasn’t started yet, and Claire will remain in Denmark until June 30th she says she’s very grateful for the experience.

“Deciding to spend my year overseas has been one the best decisions I’ve ever made, not only for the soccer but also for the friendships I’ve created and being able to live and learn another culture. It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things,” said Krynowski.

Now that the EVN school has qualified for the World Schools Football Championship the girls are in a group with Germany, Taipei, and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia-Herzogovina). Two teams out of that group will advance to the knockout round with matches beginning on April 7.

There will still be two and a half months of school and soccer training left after the ISF championship and one of the other highlights for Claire will be a visit to Iceland. Some of her teammates are from there, and she’ll also get to meet her third cousin. Claire’s third cousin just happens to be the First Lady of Iceland.

After the year abroad comes to an end Claire will be back in Nanaimo and back on the Vancouver Island Wave team. She’ll also be attending an ID camp in Shawnigan Lake for NCAA soccer programs this summer. The international experience Claire is getting in the classroom and on the pitch will only help with her goal of playing soccer at the next level.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77