Cam Hundal proved as proficient on the sidelines as he is a player on the pitch.
The rookie head coach guided the St. Michaels University School Blue Jags to the sa国际传媒 boys鈥� double-A high school soccer title on Wednesday at Burnaby Lake with a 2-1 victory in the championship game over Bodwell Secondary from North Vancouver.
鈥淭his was a new experience. But I brought the same mentality to coaching that I have as a player: I want to win,鈥� said Hundal, both the 2015 sa国际传媒 West and U Sports national MVP during his outstanding career with the University of Victoria Vikes.
Hundal, who won the 2011 U Sports national title at UVic as a freshman, used his playing acumen to good advantage in his first crack at coaching.
鈥淚 was able to figure out our strengths and analyze the other teams,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut in the end, it comes down to the players. They bought into my concepts.鈥�
SMUS beat W.L. Seaton 4-0 in the semifinals, while Bodwell needed overtime to edge Langley Fundamental 4-3 in their semifinal.
Harry Shaw, a Grade 11 striker, scored both of the SMUS goals in the final. Dennis Siegrist of SMUS, a Grade 12 midfielder from Switzerland, was named the sa国际传媒 tournament MVP.
Even with his initial success, Hundal said coaching is not something he is pursuing hard at the moment. He is only 24 and still hoping to make it as a pro player.
A searing offensive player with skill and speed, Hundal earned pro trials earlier this year in Germany, but that is a country not lacking in soccer talent.
鈥淚 am looking into USL and NASL pro options in North America,鈥� he said.
鈥淢aybe at some point, I might get into coaching more.鈥�
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