Family beams with pride as son leads N.W.T. futsal team to 2 victories in 1 day

It was a close game, but the N.W.T.'s junior male futsal team eked out a 2-1 win against Alaska at the Arctic Winter Games on Tuesday — and then went on to a sweeping 13-2 win against Team Nunavut.

As team captain Tanaka Muwirimi played that first game at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre in Fort McMurray, Alta., he saw his hero — his dad, Panganai Muwirimi — up in the stands cheering him on.

"He's my idol, in my opinion. He's always been there," Tanaka said after his team won against Alaska. "He coached most of my teams, he really helped me improve my game. He was strong; when I had bad games, he was there. Good games, he was there."

Tuesday's games were just two of 15 futsal matches teams from the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Alberta, Alaska and Nordic countries (Team Sápmi) are playing this week. They also follow a 4-2 loss against Team Yukon on Monday.

Speaking to CBC, Panganai didn't have the words to express how it felt to watch his son lead his team to victory.

"It's great to see your son playing, doing what he loves best. And I'm able to be available and present with him, supporting him," Panganai said.

Philder Nyadembera, Tanaka's mom, said they've been sending videos and photos to their family members back in Zimbabwe, "so they can feel a little bit of what we're feeling."

Panganai and his family moved from Zimbabwe to the U.S., and then to Toronto, where Tanaka was born. They eventually went west to Alberta, before Nyadembera accepted a job at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.

Panganai said he started coaching his son in soccer because he saw the talent Tanaka had and wanted to help him succeed.

Watching Tanaka represent the N.W.T. at the Arctic Winter Games "feels great," he