First major soccer tournament at Shawnee complex to be held in November

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The first major soccer tournament to be held at the Shawnee Park Multisports Complex will be held in November, Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango announced at Thursday’s commission meeting.

The site will be the location of the Friends of Coal Cup, which will be held Nov. 10 and 11. Salango said they expect between 100 and 150 teams from West Virginia will take part in the event.

“We want to host the Friends of Coal tournament every year, and make sure it’s a West Virginia tournament,” he said.

As for the construction of the complex, Salango said everything is on schedule for the front of the park to be open by July 15 or “perhaps earlier.” Officials will meet next week to negotiate the installation of 12 LED lights around the four soccer fields. The lights will be designed and built by Musco Lighting.

Salango said sports leagues want to host at sites where lighting is available.

“If we don’t have those lights, particularly for fall tournaments, you can’t play past 5 o’clock,” he said. “It’s also dangerous, and not just for soccer.”

The USA Softball of West Virginia also presented the Shawnee Park Foundation with a $1,000 check for development.