Port Williams, N.S., soccer player gets star treatment at Canada's practice in Halifax
About 2,500 fans salute Jacob Shaffelburg and Canada’s men's national team
Port Williams, N.S., soccer player Jacob Shaffelburg was the star attraction Tuesday night as Canada's men's national team held an open training session in Halifax.
Brothers Grady and Eben Hollis, who travelled from the Annapolis Valley with their family, were among the estimated 2,500 people who turned out to welcome Shaffelburg home as the squad made its first appearance at the Wanderers Grounds.
"Just seeing him playing and scoring goals — it's a little different than just somebody from Canada," said Grady, 17.
"I like that he's the same position as me and we shoot with both of our feet," said Eben, 8.
Both boys were wearing Canada jerseys sporting Shaffelburg's name and his number 14, as were many of the fans throughout the crowd.
"Growing up, I never would have imagined this kind of situation, so to have all my family and my wife's family here to support me is amazing," Shaffelburg said after the session.
The 25-year-old has become an important part of the national team, adding speed to the attack and scoring some key goals in big games.
Tuesday's session was part of the team's training camp in Halifax prior to upcoming matches against Ukraine and Ivory Coast, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup that Canada is jointly hosting with the United States and Mexico.
The session was a relaxed affair and players interacted with fans throughout the event before signing autographs and posing for photographs afterward.
Shaffelburg, who also plays for Major League Soccer club Nashville, provided as many as 80 tickets for family and friends to be in the crowd.
"To come home and have community support and everyone here, I know it means a lot to Jacob and it certainly means a lot to us as a family. There are a lot of people here who have had a lot to do with his development," said his mom, Linda Shaffelburg.
Marvin Messom is proud of how his grandson is representing Port Williams, a village about 95 kilometres northwest of Halifax.
"I don't know where he got it, but he never got the speed from me," Messom joked. "I don't know, but he's got the speed and he just got the natural touch."
The national team partnered with the Halifax Wanderers to stage Tuesday's event.
"Halifax now I think is one of the top cities in the country for supporting soccer," said Derek Martin, the Wanderers founder and president, pointing to the Canadian Premier League team's consistent sellouts, the emergence of the Halifax Tides professional women's team in the Northern Super League, and the Canadian women's national team game that Halifax hosted in 2023.
"Having these guys here today and selling 2,500 tickets just to have people come and watch a practice" is further evidence, Martin said.
While it was a special night for Shaffelburg, he said he is staying grounded and focused on the year ahead.
"Just being humble, remembering where I'm from and trying to make Port Williams and Nova Scotia super proud," he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
