Flying the friendly skies to Spain. (Photos courtesy Dustin Van Velkinburgh)
Chayse Van Velkinburgh is living the Spanish soccer dream.
The Coupeville Middle School 7th grader is taking a brief break from basketball to participate in a week of pitch training with Real Madrid.
Van Velkinburgh copped MVP status at a soccer camp in Temecula, California in June, which earned him the invite to the home of one of the beautiful game’s premier franchises.
The Wolf ace is nursing an injury, said dad Dustin, but is “competing and working as hard as he can.”
“His Real Madrid coach was very complimentary of his play today,” said the proud papa, a noted pitch warrior in his own right back in the day.
The younger Van Velkinburgh is playing at Valdebebas in Madrid.
The complex includes numerous practice fields, as well as the stadium where the first team Real Madrid women, and second team men, play their games.
Competition at the camp is intense, with players from Chayse’s age group working with the class one year older.
After training, the young booters will play in a game for the Madrid Euro Soccer Academy team.
“This experience is unlike anything I have been a part of,” Dustin Van Velkinburgh said.
“I cannot express the rush of emotion I experienced today when we set foot in the Real Madrid complex.
“Just thinking about all the greats that have played here and now my son gets to share those same fields is truly amazing.”
Coupeville Sports 
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