Winnipeg's young soccer players will gain valuable experience in the U.S. thanks to the former Blue Bomber

The former Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver is giving back to the community with a new team bus he hopes Manitoba sports teams will use to help them travel.

Kito Poblach, who spent three seasons with the Bombers from 2011 to 2013, said what Canada lacks is getting kids into high-level competition at a young age, which is what the sport means.

“That's where the inspiration for this program came from and it's been great ever since,” Poblach told CityNews.

The program is a Manitoba elite soccer team established in 2016 that takes players to the United States to play against American soccer contenders.

“We have kids from all over the province — Brandon kids, Steinbach kids, city kids, even Dauphin kids — they come once a week … and they come together (and) we practice,” Montreal said. – Born in Poblach, he also played for the BC Lions.

He brought young football players to Grand Forks, North Dakota and Las Vegas, even allowing them to play at Viking Stadium in Minnesota.

“The biggest question I ask Canadian players is, what's the difference between an American athlete and a Canadian athlete? Usually they say bigger, faster, stronger, all of which are really not true.

“We were able to give these kids these resources and give them the experience of playing around American guys. Now they realize, “damn, I'm just as good as these guys.” And this guy … wants to go to the biggest schools. “Why do I think I should only go to this level of school?” Now we're trying to help these kids expand their minds to realize, “Maybe I can reach for the stars.” Maybe I'll push myself beyond what I thought I could do.'' That's why we're doing what we're doing.”

On Wednesday night, the Manitoba selection will travel to Florida.

Eleven-year-old Brian Courchen, a first-year Manitoba Selects defensive tackle, will not travel with the team to Florida this time due to injury. But he says he's looking forward to where football will take him and hopes it will give him the chance to travel and see the world.

“It feels really powerful,” Brian said of playing soccer. “I get a little nervous. It just feels good to go out there and play ball.”

Brian and his mother, Cheryl James, are fundraising for the trip, as are many families on the Manitoba selection team.

“I'm standing in the stands with the other parents and I'm always on my phone,” James said. “My brother told me one of the things he was going to do was videotape it so he could see how it got better. After I'm done for the day, I'll record it while he's working out, and then he'll watch the videos when we go home.”

Poblach said the past few years have brought him closer to his goals of being able to offer top-level travel sports in Winnipeg. But he realized he could take it a step further.

“You know, it's so funny because years ago we used to rent buses all the time, and then I was like, you know? I will learn to drive a truck,” said Poblach. “It was funny because I told everyone I wanted a bus and it's been four years.”

The former CFLer is no stranger to turning dreams into reality, so he set out to fulfill a different purpose.

“Basically I tested myself by getting my bus license and then after I got my bus license I knew I had to keep riding the bus. Fortunately, we have been able to make some strides in the last couple of years. This year we bought a bus for the program.”

Poblach runs his own sports agency, which partially helps subsidize sports clubs like Manitoba Choices to help deal with costs. So the bus was bought. He says he looks forward to being able to provide buses for other teams for their first trips.

Manitoba head coach Donald Burrell, who also formerly of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, says the first trip of the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers bus will take his players to Florida.

“I'm looking forward to the opportunity for them to build their confidence playing the American kids,” said Burrell, in his third year with the Manitoba Selects but first as head coach. “We'll be able to use them as a measuring stick, where they are as individuals and where we are as a program.

“They want to put themselves in a situation where they can use their athletic skills. They want to develop their skills a little. It's winter, and everyone's done with football except us. When they are all done, they have the opportunity to put on a helmet and shoulder pads. I think they like that part, I know I do.”

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Burrell says that while the team will need more practice, they are ready for their upcoming games in Miami and Orlando.

“This whole team, offensively, is probably the best part of it,” the coach said. “Defensively, we've got a little ways to go, but offensively, I'm looking forward to seeing what we do, what kind of effort we'll put forth when we get a chance to play against a lower team in America. »

“We try to give these kids the best experience at a young age, so when they're 14, 15, 16 years old and they get a chance to play in front of scouts who want to recruit them, they're already playing. on the big stage,” added Poblach. “They've already played with other guys and they're ready for that moment to get that scholarship to go to the next level.”

WATCH: Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Kito Poblach talks life after CFL retirement