Williams has chance to play in European showcase
(Courtesy photo) Sandpoint native Tanner Williams, right, celebrates with Kitsap Pumas teammates last season. A local family is currently trying to raise money to get the highly-talented Williams to a European pro showcase tour in Ireland later this month.
SANDPOINT — One of the best athletes to ever come through Sandpoint High School is hoping to make one final push at professional soccer, as Tanner Williams was recently selected by a group of U.S. coaches to play in a European showcase tour starting on July 19 in Dublin, Ireland.
But whether Williams, who played in 2016 for the Kitsap Pumas of the National Premier Soccer League in a level below Major League Soccer, can make the trip or not is still up in the air.
Local Dan Zavala, with the help of daughters Gaby Lupian and Alexa Zavala, is hoping to get Williams the chance to play for two weeks in Europe and possibly land a spot on a professional team. They started a fundraiser recently, with Lupian designing a brochure in the hopes they can raise at least $2,000 by the July 10 deadline to help cover Williams’ expenses.
Williams was invited to a tryout in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and opened the coaches’ eyes with his play, ultimately earning one of the 18 invites to the aforementioned traveling U.S. team, playing top level competition in Ireland starting July 19.
“They took a look at him, and a group got invited to display their talent in Europe,” said Zavala, whose daughter Alexa has taken soccer lessons from Williams the past year. “He wants to play for a pro team. He wasn’t sure (about the trip) because he doesn’t have the funds.”
If Williams makes the trip, he’ll be playing in a two-week showcase tour against professional teams from Ireland, Scotland, Norway and Sweden, including some Premier League first and second teams.
A strong showing at the showcase games could land Williams a contract offer on a European team, where there are far more opportunities for to play professionally than in the U.S.
“That’s the goal, depending on how well I play at the showcase,” said Williams. “It’s a cool opportunity, especially with the potential of living abroad. I would love to.”
Williams, 24, was one of the best boys soccer players to come out of North Idaho in the last decade, playing on two state championship teams at Sandpoint and dominating the pitch despite constant double teams.
At Sandpoint he earned two selections to the Olympic Development Program Region IV team, as well as an NSCAA High School All-American selection.
He played a season at Concordia University in Portland, scoring three goals and dishing out six assists as a freshman, before transferring to Evergreen, where the lightning-quick 5-10, 170 pound forward scored 14 goals to go with 14 assists on the way to All-Cascade Collegiate Conference honors as a senior.
In his one season with the Pumas, in what is akin to a AAA team in baseball, Williams got a taste of the pro game. He’s hoping for more, and Zavala is hoping he gets that chance.
“He’s involved with the Sandpoint community in soccer. Good demeanor, carries himself very nice and always seems to be working hard,” described Zavala, who felt compelled to help and asked Williams if it was alright. “He was humble enough to say yes. I’m trying to reward him with our effort to raise money for him, and it was because of the impression he left.”
Anyone who would like to make a donation can drop it off at the Daily Bee front desk during working hours. You can also contact Dan Zavala at 208-920-9158, or by email at thezavala@yahoo.com, and any donation will be picked up.