The game of soccer has become a real passion for 15-year-old Morden star, Kellen King, and the young goal-scoring sensation is pleased with how things have gone to this point, as well as where they are headed in the future.

Finding soccer

Soccer wasn’t always front of mind for King, who says he slowly got into it by watching one of the best in the world. “In middle school, I tried out. I’ve just been watching a lot of soccer, like Ronaldo. I used to watch him a lot. So I got into the sport. I didn’t make it in grade seven, So in that summer. I trained, practiced a lot, and made it in grade eight, so then I just took it off since grade eight. I just love the sport.”

Since then, King says he’s seen a lot of growth in his game. “It’s been really good,” he says with a grin. “Lots of people are willing to help me with it. Lots of teams have given me opportunities to improve, so it’s been good.”

Natural goal scorer

When it comes to what part of the game is his favourite, King is quick to say, “I love scoring goals,” he says with a big smile, adding that learning how to score has come slowly but surely. “It’s hard. It’s really physical to be in the right areas. My teammates play a huge role, as well. They make it pretty easy. It’s really fun because I like meeting new people. Getting more understanding of other people’s chemistry and how they like playing. It’s helped me understand the game more, how they want me set up. Plus, score goals.”

South Central Youth Soccer Club

This year, King and the SCYS have been on quite a tear, as he explains. “We were on a win streak. We won every game,” he says with a humble grin. “In our league, U15, but we play U14 too. We lost once in the U14 League and lost once in the U15, but it’s been really good. It’s going good. We’re second right now in the league.”

Saturday marks the team’s next game, and King wants to be at the top of his game and knows what he needs to do to be ready. “I need to be confident, go out and try my best. I just love to play the game and do my best for the team to win.”

Strong support

King says he wouldn’t be where he is today without a strong supporter who’s always cheering him on. “Mostly, I have to thank my mom. My mom is really happy for me. She helped me a lot. She talks to coaches for me. Lots of coaches come and reach out to me. She supports me a lot, so letting me do lots of sports and soccer.”

Student-athlete life

Balancing the life of a soccer player and a student isn’t easy, according to King, but he’s trying hard at that, too. “That’s tricky,” he says with a chuckle. “Because I’m more focused on soccer than I am on my school, so I’m getting involved with it. But it’s going good. It’s just a little tiring.”

He does have one eye on the future, with maybe that next level of soccer a possibility. “I want to go to university so I can get better at soccer and play for higher divisions. I want to develop more skills.”

Representing Morden

“I’m happy I can play for them,” he says of people in the community. “I’m like that. I’m happy that I do my best for them to give a better image of their sports teams, and like that. I really like helping them, I like helping people get into sports, too.”

World Cup influence

Having this be the year of the biggest soccer tournament in the world, King says it’s great to see so many people passionate about it like he is. “It’s great because lots of people say soccer’s not ever a hard sport. It’s the most-watched sport in the world, and people love watching their team go against each other and other teams. Hoping to win the trophy.”