Three of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC newest residency players want to bring the Danone Cup back out west.
Burnaby's Filip Rakic and Alessandro Hojabrpour, and Niko Papakyriakopoulos of New Westminster are three young Whitecaps named to the B.C. contingent of Team West to the Danone Cup national championship to be held in Toronto this summer.
"I'm very versatile. I can play in all positions without struggling, and I enjoy all the positions. I've always loved (soccer)," said Niko, an 11-year-old Glenbrook Middle School Grade 6 student.
Filip, also 11, is equally capable at either end of the pitch.
"I can play any position, including goaltender," said the Grade 6 Marlborough Elementary student. "As long as I am playing, I'm happy."
Alessandro, 12, has played soccer since the age of four, beginning as a striker, but now is more at home making plays at the centre-midfield position.
"(The Danone Cup) is a big honour - huge, because you are representing the whole country in the west, and it's not just a team - it's the whole country," said Alessandro, who already has developed some real chemistry with Filip in the short time they have been with the 'Caps.
"I remember I would cross (the ball) and he would always get on the ball," said Filip.
"Yeah, I scored a header," replied Alessandro.
The three local boys were shortlisted from approximately 500 youngsters who took part in the initial Danone Cup tryouts at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West.
More than 30 kids were invited for further scrutiny in mid-April before the final selection was made.
The boys dealt with the pressure of waiting in different ways.
Niko's father Kostas met him after school holding a Danone refreshment in his hand in answer to the burning question that was occupying his son's mind.
Filip slept the night before the online announcement in his Danone shirt.
He woke up repeatedly, pestering his parents with the question, "Have you got the email yet?"
Alessandro also had a hard time putting the final announcement out of his mind.
"I had a buddy at school who tried out, too, and he kept reminding me. Oh, the Danone is going to say who made it in 10 minutes, nine minutes, eight minutes. I couldn't stop thinking about it after that," Alessandro said.
All three have shown a passion for the beautiful game since they can remember.
Niko started playing in the Royal City, but began playing a year up with Coquitlam Metro-Ford as a nine-year-old.
Filip, wanted so much to play soccer football that he had to join the New Westminster Tigers soccer academy at the age of five to get his start.
"I like playing (soccer). I have a picture when I was one-year-old and I had a soccer ball," he said. "When I play, I feel different. I don't know how to say it. I'm happy."
Alessandro groomed his game at ICSF before moving up to the highperformance league and Metro-Ford.
The boys are all accomplished individuals off the pitch as well.
Niko is fluent in Greek and plays classical guitar and he will soon test for his black belt in karate.
He is also B-plus student in school.
Filip is accomplished in the arts and with digital technology, while Alessandro has reached the level of third grade in piano.
But for now, it's all about soccer and fulfilling those dreams - both short and long term.
Niko said being a member of the Whitecaps FC program is all about getting better as a player.
"I feel very proud and happy wearing it (a Whitecaps jersey) - like a professional."
"My desire is always to be a player in Barcelona," said Filip.
"I want to just be a soccer player and play for a national team," added Alessandro.
But before those dreams can be fully answered, there is a more pressing competition looming, and that is the national Danone Cup.
The winner of the Danone national final will move on to the world final in Poland later this fall.
"We're going to go for sure," Alessandro said.
