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Treschuk to Holland,
this time as a pro

Kenji Treschuk leaves for Holland on Wednesday to pursue his dream of playing professional soccer.

The former Moanalua and Penn State standout had a taste of European soccer earlier this year when he spent three months playing as an amateur in Holland. His showing caught the eye of officials from Feyernoord located in Rotterdam.

"I played for HCSC in Den Helder in the north of Holland. Alex Pama, a coach I played for previously in Atlanta with the Georgia Red Wings helped me out," Treschuk said. "Den Helder is his hometown and I stayed with his parents. That worked out pretty well."

Treschuk was in Holland from March to late May. In his first match for Den Helder, he scored the game-winning goal.

"I tried to make a name for myself. It went pretty well," said Treschuk, who is used as an attacking center midfielder.

"HCSC competes in the second-highest amateur level, a pretty high level."

Treschuk had offers to play for amateur teams as a semipro in the top level, but turned them down because he wants to pursue a pro career.

He was invited to train with FC Groningen, a Dutch first-division team, and played in one match with the reserve team. He scored a goal, but sprained an ankle that sidelined him for a month.

Still, he was invited to a tryout with Feyernoord, another first-division team currently in fourth place.

"I was still a bit injured, but they wanted to see my skill base," said Treschuk who was invited to return this month.

"They have an affiliate team, KV Mechelen (located in Belgium), and that is probably where I will go on trial with Feyernoord. There are some other options. I may have a trial with SV Elversberg in Germany.

"This is what I've always wanted, to sign a pro contract. I want to see where this takes me. I don't want to look back later and second guess. I just want to give myself a shot."

Phil Neddo, director of coaching for the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club, sent Treschuk to Atlanta.

"Kenji has a tremendous situation going for him with Feyernoord," Neddo said. "That is one of the 'Big 3' teams in Holland."

Holomua became the third team from Hawaii in the last two years to win a division title in the Veteran's Cup, capturing the women's over-50 title in Wilmington, N.C., last month with a 1-0 victory over Seattle Best Shear Power.

This is the same team that beat the University of Hawaii women, playing under the Vaiete banner, 2-1 in overtime in the championship final a year ago at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.

Holomua team members are Kathleen Adams, Debbie Boltz, Kathryn Farley, Donna Fouts, Pilahi Gregg, Leslie Harakawa, Christine Haywood, Lee Kalama, Alexis Kane, Patty Kim, Kathryn Mahoney, Rene Martin, Corrine Mewhirter, Susan Reba Duva, Elizabeth Riegels, Leslie Smith and Maris VanderLee.

"What was great was the other three teams from Hawaii were there cheering us on, even though our final match started at 8 a.m.," said goalkeeper Donna Fouts, who did not allow a score in five matches. "It made a tremendous difference to have all the Hawaii people screaming for us.

"They even moved a bleacher from one side of the field (reserved for teams only) to the other side."