Vancouver street soccer league players plead for field access

A Vancouver soccer club is struggling to get a few hours of field time while millions are being poured into next year’s World Cup.

While World Cup mania is about to sweep the region, some of Metro Vancouver’s most marginalized are having a tough time playing the beautiful game.

The Vancouver Street Soccer League is struggling to get a few hours of field time on Sundays.

According to players, the league practised every Sunday at Strathcona Field for the past decade, until last year.

In a social media post from July 26, 2024, the VSSL announced the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation said the league was not allowed to use the park for the fall or winter, and that “there are no available time slots for fields in the downtown area on Sundays for this fall/winter season.”

Now, for the second year in a row, they’ve been told they won’t have access to the field.

‘Not focused on the past’

Sattar Hassanyar, a VSSL player, said he looks forward to the weekend practices.

“I think if we can make it happen, it will be much better,” he said. “Not just for me, but for everyone, because we really enjoy it here.”

Many who play in the league come from challenging backgrounds.

Hassanyar is an Afghan refugee who fled the country when the Taliban reclaimed Kabul in 2021.

Being part of the league, he said, has helped him in many ways.

“I found friends here, and it helped me with my English,” he said.

Former player Daniel Bustamante credits his years playing in the league for providing him with support during a difficult time in his life.

“I think that playing soccer was a moment during the week where I felt not only connected to my neighbours, but also it was the only time of the week when I was not focused on the past and depressed about whatever happened,” he said.

Bustamante said he’s hoping a solution can be found to keep the Sunday practices going.

“If there are things in the city that are actually making a difference in people’s lives, like it did in my life, I think those things should be given priority.”

VSSL goalie, Freddy Galvez agreed, adding it’s stressful not knowing whether they’ll have a field.

Galvez said he practises on Tuesday and Thursday with the VSSL at Andy Livingstone Park, but that the Sunday practices are crucial for the program.

“Some people who use drugs and alcohol, those people can show up here to play and I’ve seen a couple changes with those people,” he said. ”You know, I see the people change from the worse, for the better.”

Park board says it’s trying to find solutions

In a statement to CTV News, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation said the field’s condition is the primary issue.

“Strathcona Oval is designated as a spring/summer field and is not suitable for fall or winter use due to inadequate drainage,” a spokesperson wrote, adding “continued use during the off-season has led to damage, especially when fields are used without permits.”

The Park Board added it’s been working closely with key representatives from the VSSL to explore alternative field options that are safe, seasonally appropriate, and meet permitting requirements.

CTV News reached out to the VSSL board for comment but did not receive a response.