The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks have signed two new players ahead of the 2024-25 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season.
Saltillo, Mexico’s Emiliano García Velarde moved to Lethbridge four years ago. The winger attended Catholic Central High School and played for the Lethbridge Football Club.
“I was drawn to the ACAC because it is a very competitive league,” says Velarde.
“As for what influenced me to join this team, it was the great people who make up the team like the staff and players.”
He reached out to Kodiaks head coach Sean Carey and was invited to open sessions with the team. “He’s a playmaker — he can play wing, he can play fullback, he can play centre-mid,” says Carey. “His close foot control skills are a high level.”
During the Kodiaks pre-season, the men’s team played exhibition games against north division teams. Velarde scored a goal against Portage College in a 2-0 win on Saturday, August 24.
“This group of young guys that we’ve got are just going to continue to grow and grow,” says Carey. “The demand from the older players to these young guys is just making them so much better and moving (them) up to this level.”
Velarde will study in Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Agriculture Sciences program.
TOSIN AKINOLA
The Kodiaks have also added Lagos, Nigeria’s Tosin Akinola to the roster for the season. In Nigeria, he attended Olive Metropolitan College before moving to Lethbridge.
Akinola joins the Kodiaks with accolades to his name, having been awarded the best playmaker honour for his high school and best player in futsal.
He earned his spot on the Lethbridge Polytechnic men’s team after attending a talent identification camp on the recommendation of his friend and Kodiaks member Wilson Ntignee. From there, he was invited back to an open session with the team before receiving an official spot on the roster.
“My friends in the Kodiaks told me about the team and how each person puts in their best effort to win games and tournaments,” says Akinola. “I decided that I wanted to be a part of that.”
Akinola will fill a void lost by the departure of previous players. Originally a centre-midfielder, the Kodiaks say he will play as centre-back for the team.
“He came out for a tryout and we absolutely love his game,” says coach Carey. “He’s a physical, big centre-back and has some pace with him.”
Akinola has enrolled in the polytechnic’s Business Administration – Accounting program.
The Kodiaks men’s soccer team start the regular season on Saturday, September 7 on the road against Ambrose University. That opening game will be followed by their regular season home opener against SAIT on Sunday, September 8.
