Canadian soccer club Westcastle International Academy is returning to Halmstad for the third time and the Laxacupen tournament for the second consecutive year. Academy Director Eddie Mukahanana explains why Halmstad has become a second home for players, coaches and families from Vancouver.
Hello Eddie! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. How are you?
Hello! I'm doing very well, thank you. We’re very excited to once again be travelling with our teams from Canada to Sweden for this fantastic experience. This won’t be our first visit to Halmstad – it will actually be our third – and each year the tournament continues to provide our players, coaches and families with an amazing experience, both culturally and from a football perspective.
This year, we’re bringing a large group consisting of five teams, 75 players, five coaches and more than 60 parents, and we’re truly looking forward to being part of the tournament once again!
How did it all start?
The reason we started Westcastle was really to create opportunities for young players to develop through soccer while also experiencing other cultures. The first time we came to Halmstad, we didn’t take part in the Laxacup. Instead, we came for a training camp together with Halmstads BK (HBK). It was very much about cultural exchange, and it turned out to be a great success.
We built a really strong relationship with HBK that time, so the following year we did the same thing again, which was incredibly enjoyable. The players got so much out of the experience. They loved Tylösand and everything Halmstad had to offer. The parents came along as well and wanted to keep coming back. They also started recommending the trip to others: “You have to go there, you have to go there – it’s an amazing place!”
Each year, we’ve brought new people with us, and all of them have been impressed. Not only have their expectations been met, but in many cases they’ve been exceeded. Last year, we brought the largest group we’ve ever had. Two teams took part in Laxacupen, and the following week another two teams arrived. I was in Halmstad for almost an entire month!
Great to hear! So, what do you think of Halmstad?
What I really appreciate about Halmstad – and Sweden in general – is how much it reminds me of Canada in terms of its culture. The people are humble, welcoming and friendly. Places like that are hard to find these days. I find that both our young players and their parents feel at home and settle into the environment very naturally when they’re in Halmstad. Even the weather feels familiar; sometimes warm, sometimes rainy, and overall quite unpredictable. Since we live on Canada’s west coast, in Vancouver, the weather is actually very similar to what we experience in Halmstad – so it feels like home!
On top of that, Halmstad is one of the safest places we’ve ever visited. It truly is a wonderful city. One of the teams that joined us last year is coming back again this year. They weren’t originally planning to go, but the players kept convincing me: “We have to go back, we have to go back!” In the end, of course, I said yes and let them come along.
What are your expectations for Laxacupen?
My hope is to create friendships, cultural exchange and long-term relationships. It’s about developing future leaders, not just in sport but as human beings as well.
What do the players think?
Last year, the players exchanged jerseys with other teams during the Laxacup. My son was one of them. Now he has jerseys from all sorts of clubs at home – but hardly any of his own training gear left because he traded it all away! But that’s okay; there’s actually something very special about that.
This year, we’ve encouraged all the players to bring along their jerseys and equipment from last year to share with others. It’s a really meaningful experience and a way of building connections that last beyond the tournament.
What will you take away from this experience?
One of the most important things we do is build relationships that can last a lifetime. This year, we’re bringing 75 players, 60 parents and five coaches to Sweden. Together, we create friendships, experiences and memories that will last long after football is over.
Thank you, Eddie. Welcome back to Halmstad, and best of luck in the tournament!
Name: Eddie Mukahanana
Born: 9 March 1977 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Occupation: Owner and Academy Director of Westcastle International Academy
Background:
Eddie Mukahanana is a former Zimbabwean soccer player who was selected for the Zimbabwe men’s national team during the qualification campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He ended his playing career in 2002 due to injury.
Eddie Mukahanana has worked as a soccer coach on Vancouver Island, Canada, since 2000. In 2019, he founded Westcastle International Academy in Vancouver and has since focused on developing it into the professional soccer academy it is today.
About Laxacupen:
- An annual youth soccer tournament in Halmstad, Sweden for players aged 10–16.
- Organized every summer by Halmstads BK since 1980.
- In 2026, the Laxacup will be played from Thursday, 23 July, to Sunday, 26 July.
- Matches are primarily played at Halmstad Arena IP, also known as Sannarps IP. Some matches are also played at Skedalaheds IP.