On a gleaming indoor pitch, Edmonton coach Ahmad Majed watches Amelia Burata unleash a thunderous kick, driving the ball into the net.

Burata , 11, has trained with the founder of Soccer Elite Academy for half her life but it’s their first practice together on Elite’s new field.

“It’s beautiful – even when it's snowing outside, I can come here, train and up my skills and do it without freezing,” Burata told CBC News.

“Ahmad is giving the opportunity to kids like me and other kids to step on to this field, join this academy, and then work as hard as they can to become a great soccer player.”

Amelia Burata, 11, has trained with Soccer Elite Academy since its launch six years ago. (Craig Ryan/CBC)

In October, Elite celebrated the launch of their new home — the Athletes Hanger — just

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