The Yukon Soccer Association's 16 year old boys team is heading to the National Championships in Winnipeg, Man. next month, but the celebrations are bittersweet, coach Renzo Ordonez says.

While the team prepares for their departure and readies their game at the 2009 BMO National Club Championships U-16 Boys/Girls Adidas Cup, Ordonez says the Yukon Soccer Association, which governs his team, is forcing him to add a coaching assistant of their choosing to the sidelines.

"They never included me in that decision,” said Ordonez. "I feel they don't trust me as a coach.”

Ordonez has been coaching the team for the last four years, including a successful eighth place finish at the Adidas Cup two years ago.

Ordonez says he is speaking out because he is disappointed with how the decision was handled, and wants to speak up on behalf of parents.

"As a parent I have my concern. Who's going to pay the expense for the second coach's assistant?” said Ordonez.

The coach is already being assisted by three parent chaperones on the Winnipeg trip.

"It's not fair for my reputation as a coach,” said Ordonez. He also says the decision is not fair to the chaperones.

Ordonez says the money involved with hiring a new assistant coach could be spent elsewhere.

"We have money to send somebody, but why don't they have money to buy soccer balls?” he said. "I believe we can spend the money wisely.”

Ordonez says the decision was sparked by an incident at last year's nationals in P.E.I. Three players were suspended for the hazing of three rookie players, and the team underwent hazing awareness programs.

"It can happen in any sport,” he said. "We can't predict it.”

Despite the controversy, Ordonez says his team is practising well heading into the October games.

"The kids are feeling very strong,” he said. "They know how to play a beautiful game.”

The Yukon team is chosen differently than others throughout Canada. Because it is such a small territory, Yukon players are chosen for their abilities. Coaches build the strongest possible team to send to the Nationals.

"We are a small town where we have limited kids who are 16,” Ordonez said.

In the larger populated provinces, teams hold playoffs and the best team goes to the championships.

Ordonez says Alberta and Quebec will be the toughest to beat, with Alberta holding the top spot from last year, and Quebec in second.

The Yukon team will take on Quebec first thing when they arrive in Winnipeg.

"Our first match is going to be tough against Quebec,” said Ordonez.

The tournament will have a round robin to decide the front runners with playoffs and the gold medal game to follow.

"I have very high hopes that we can make sixth or seventh,” said Ordonez.

When Ordonez took his team to Newfoundland two years ago for nationals, they managed to pull off an eighth place spot.

"We put the Yukon very high on the competition,” said Ordonez.

The coach is sure his team can pull off a few wins in the round robin to secure them a high spot in the final standings.

The Adidas Cup runs from October 7 to 12, and the 18 lucky members of the Yukon team will play at least three games throughout the five days.

With about 19 days until the players head to the Adidas Cup, Ordonez hopes the Yukon Soccer Association will let him and his players get back to training for the game.