Bulgarian soccer is already a fact in western Canada. The team, thanks to the financial support of the bulgarian organization in Calgary,
is part of the summer league of the Calgary United Soccer Association(CUSA). CUSA encompases all amateur soccer teams in Alberta and
is an association with an excellent national and provincial reputation. The Bulgarian Lions have presented themselved admirably and
are currently in third place in Division 6. The league is challanging and the matches are fierce, but the team has played on a professional
level. The Bulgarian Lions soccer team was formed in 2005 from a group of enthusiasts, who were joined together by the idea of forming a
Bulgarian Soccer team. The team's captain and coach is Ilian Kalchev and their manager is Tzvetan Petrov. For the first few years after
its creation the team was informal and this is its first participation in CUSA with 14 qualification matches.
Besides the team's level of play, what is most fascinating is the unbelivable enthusiasm and support from the fans, who are often
painted with the bulgarian flag. Young and old alike attend the matches. Soccer really joins many people with different interests.
Often, at the stadium, you will hear the fans chanting “Българи! Юнаци!”, and the more fierce the match becomes the louder the screams get.
For those of you who don't know the bulgarian language, the phrase can be translated to "Bulgarians! Champions!".
The kids from the Bulgarian school also kick the ball around the field, admiring the players at half time and waiting
impatiently for their turn to come one day when they can join the team.
Ofcourse we all wait for the Bulgarian Lions to become champions in Calgary. We continue to support and cheer for them, despite the
fact that we might not know much about soccer. The boys proved that they have tallent and the potential to be victorious! We are proud
of them and wish them all the best in the finals.
If you want to learn more about the team, please check out the section dedicated to them on this website.
Author: Sasha Tsenkova, President of the Calgary Bulgarian Society
Contact from the team: Ilian Kalchev, coach of the Bulgarian Lions
Email:
ikalchev@yahoo.com, Phone:403-585-2764
The Bulgarian Lions Team was created a few years ago, but
this year the Calgary Bulgarian Society had the pleasure of sponsoring
the team to participate in the CUSA 2009 Outdoor League.
If you want to know more about the team and to see pictures from
fans, please join our group facebook.(To join click
here.)
If you would like to see information on CUSA-Calgary United Soccer Association
or find detailed game schedules, maps and scores, please visit the team's official
website.
