For two years, families with the Southwest United (SWU) U18 soccer team in Edmonton scrimped, saved, and fundraised. Their goal was singular: to send their teenage sons to the prestigious Sigma Showcase in the Greater Toronto Area, a tournament teeming with university and college scouts that could open doors to athletic scholarships.
A Promising Trip Canceled at the Last Minute
Plane tickets were booked. A non-refundable $2,200 tournament registration fee was paid. A group reservation with WestJet locked in a $2,400 deposit, with a requirement to purchase at least seven seats at $700 each. The dream was within reach. Then, just two days before their scheduled departure in early January 2026, the trip was abruptly canceled.
The reason? The team had no coaches. The coaching staff had been removed following a physical and verbal altercation involving club president Nashaat “George” Mansi on October 19, 2025, at Jasper Place Bowl. Despite Mansi receiving a 30-day suspension from the club for his role in the sideline incident, parents were furious he remained in his presidential position.
Broken Promises and Lost Opportunities
According to parents, the club promised replacement coaches but never followed through. Larissa Barron, a parent and former team manager, said her desperate attempts to find a SWU coach who could travel were met with silence. Without certified bench staff, the team could not obtain the necessary travel permit to send a group of minors to Ontario.
"They wrote on paper that they had replacement coaches, but they never implemented them," Barron stated. The financial loss is significant, but for the players and their families, the greater wound is the missed chance.
"Money is replaceable. We can earn more money," Barron said, capturing the sentiment of many. "But it's about the experience and opportunities that these boys missed." The team had foregone other tournaments for two years to focus on this premier scouting event.
Frustration and a Call for Accountability
Parent Laurel Coombs echoed the deep disappointment, confirming the last-minute decision to "pull the pin." The incident has left families questioning the governance and accountability within the community sports club. They view Mansi's 30-day suspension as a mere slap on the wrist, insufficient for actions that ultimately cost young athletes a pivotal moment in their sporting careers.
The saga highlights the fragile ecosystem of minor sports, where volunteer governance clashes with the high stakes of competitive youth athletics. For the U18 players of Southwest United, a dream built over two years vanished in days, leaving behind financial receipts and a profound sense of what could have been.
