Quesnel Soccer Standouts Set for International Tourney in Spain

Two soccer players from Quesnel have been chosen to compete in Salou, Spain, this November.

Blake Lentz and Rowan Prokopetz, two players on the Quesnel Youth Soccer Association(QYSA)’s U10 boys team, will join other top U11 prospects in B.C. in the Surf Cup International tournament in Spain in November 2025.

Youth teams from some of Europe’s biggest football[soccer] clubs will be taking part in the Surf Cup International. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and football clubs in LaLiga have a youth team playing this November.

“It’s going to be incredible for them,” says Coach Rob Lentz, father of Blake and who coaches the two boys in the QYSA. “Their experience is going to be so good for them. Spain is going to be amazing. They’re going to train with top coaches, it’s going to be so cool for them.”

The boys will be wearing the Elite XI Soccer Academy from Vancouver Island jerseys while in Spain. The opportunity to play for the Elite XI club came when Geraldo Ferrari, the Technical Director for the QYSA, met with one of the coaches for Elite XI, and he asked if there were any young players interested in opportunities to travel.

After getting in touch with Coach Lentz, and Rowan’s parents, the boys got instagram and social media accounts made to post highlight reels. There was more back and forth with the Elite XI coaches, and permission from the boys’ mother’s to go, and once that was given, the rest was history.

Rowan, or ‘Rowan the Destroyer’ as he is called by his elder teammates, won an MVP medal during this year’s Gold Pan Tournament in Quesnel. From a kid who Coach Rob remembers being shy and coming to practice wearing sunglasses he’d refuse to take off, the Rowan’s skill has begun to develop into an attacking forward who loves to score goals.

“He’s never without a ball,” says Rick Prokopetz, Rowan’s father, describing the soccer net in their front yard, Rowan spending ours juggling the ball in his room and their garage. “In the last few years, with Ferrari coming to town, and the [QYSA] program’s grown, our boys play four or five times a week now. He[Rowan]’s still young right now, and having fun, developing his game. It’s the most exciting thing to see.”

“It’s what we look forward to every weekend, to come here. It’s just amazing to see how much they can develop at their age when they put the work in.”

Blake Lentz, also a forward on the U10 team, has shown a natural talent for the sport since he started. In the last few years, he has also been developing his abilities and presence on the pitch. He fired off quick passes, and placed himself in great position to defend during the Gold Pan Tournament, winning himself an MVP medal as well.

Blake’s also lives and breathes the sport. His father, Rob, can recount the countless hours Blake spends practicing with the ball, and when he’s not physically playing the sport, he’s watching FIFA and Champions Leage on television, or playing FIFA on PlayStation.

Rob says Blake has a drive to continue learning the sport and that’s something they have talked about.

“One thing I talked to Blake about is an article I read that says a lot of young players that are really good with natural talent won’t as hard to stay good. So a lot of players will catch up to them because they have to work hard from the beginning. He is constantly pushing himself and learning new things. I’m so proud of his desire to keep learning the sport.”

Blake Lentz and Rowan Prokopetz, have been teammates since they started in the QYSA, and get called up to sub in the U13 boys games from time to time. Their older brothers play on the U13 team.

Blake’s and Rowan’s connection is clear to see when Blake can pass the ball up the pitch right to where Rowan needs it to go for a short or header. The two seem to know where each other are at all times when, and what the other needs to score.

“They’re best friends,” Rick Prokopetz says. “For them to play together as they are, and have this chance to go to this tournament together, and play with older kids, kids from all around the world. It’s an amazing experience, it’s a once in a lifetime chance.”

With the Gold Pan Tournament wrapped up this past weekend, Blake and Rowan are continuing their soccer training through the summer. They will be competing in the Slurpee Cup in Kamloops in May. Then another tournament in Kelowna, and a Canada Day tournament in Prince George.

Both parents, and Coach Rob have say Blake and Rowan’s game developing and teamwork has been growing since they learned they are going to Spain.

“I think with them both being accepted, they keep pushing each other,” says Rob Lentz. “They’re helping each other. The teamwork that they do together is pretty amazing and during practices and in games, they’re definitely picking it up and pushing themselves harder because of it.”