Edmonton’s youth soccer team is bouncing back after their coach, Randy Knodel, disappeared with $40,000 intended for a tournament trip, thanks to the generosity of the community and a new GoFundMe campaign.
Randy Knodel, 46, the head coach of the South Edmonton U-11 Tier 1 select team, was arrested by Strathcona County RCMP on Saturday morning on 12 counts of fraud, including both small and large fraud charges. This followed the discovery that the $40,000 raised by the team’s parents for an international tournament in Las Vegas had gone missing just days before their departure on Feb. 14. In his absence, parents learned that no tournament fees, hotel rooms, or flights had been booked, leading to a sense of betrayal.
Adam Scorgie, whose child plays on the team, expressed relief upon hearing the news. “I couldn’t believe it. It feels good knowing that he’s been caught, and now he’ll face the consequences,” Scorgie said. “I hope this helps him get his life back on track.”
While the news was initially a shock, the team’s parents quickly took action. They launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of the canceled trip, and the response was overwhelming. Within days, nearly $60,000 was raised, much of it coming from the Edmonton community.
“It’s incredible how the city stepped up,” Scorgie shared. “In a bad situation, we kept a positive mindset, and it paid off. This will be a great lesson for the kids to learn from.”
The team is now focusing on their future. Plans are in place to attend a new tournament in Las Vegas in October, an even better fit for the players. Scorgie, along with the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association, is working on securing the logistics to make sure the team can participate.
Additionally, a travel company that specializes in soccer team trips has stepped forward to assist with organizing the tournament, offering to waive their commission fees to help the team.
Any leftover funds from the GoFundMe will be used to cover soccer registration fees for children who may need assistance, and the team will also donate to other soccer programs in Edmonton that require support.
Scorgie, who owns a local film production company, is also planning to create a heartfelt “thank you” video to express the team’s gratitude for the support they’ve received from Edmontonians.
“It’s been a tough time, but it’s been so encouraging to see all the positivity that’s come out of this,” Scorgie said. “That’s what we should focus on moving forward.”
The team looks forward to a fresh start with new opportunities, and the community’s unwavering support has shown them the power of unity in the face of adversity.
