A potential partnership between Pinnacles FC and ADO Den Haag, a Dutch women’s professional soccer team, is about equal opportunity.
Pinnacles FC executive director and head coach Ezra Cremers made a trip to Holland in October. During his time there, and through his connection with Marco van Lochem of Excelsior Rotterdam, he was introduced to Sarina Wiegman, coach of the ADO Den Haag.
“No.1 we want to be able to give the same opportunities to females as we are for the males,” said Cremers. “We have the opportunity of bringing our top older players over to just have an experience of the European culture and the European way of playing. It’s not so much trying to go pro, but that European football fever. We didn’t want our girls to go play with Excelsior boys. We wanted to have a female spot.”
Cremers made it known that he wanted to learn how they train their players. He also extended an invite to Wiegman, who played 104 games internationally for the Dutch team, to visit Penticton and train their female players.
“At first, the Dutch culture is if they don’t know you, they are always quite reserved,” said Cremers. “We had one meeting together and the conversations went very well. One or two players will head over during spring break next year.”
Cremers said he is also looking into having a full-time assistant female coach alongside him.