FAITH   FAMILY   FOOTBALL

My parents tell me stories about what I was like as a young child. One of my very first words was the Italian word for ball, palla. I was fascinated with the shape, colours, and properties of my favourite toy. My father, a big hockey fan, told me that he would put a hockey stick in my hands and a puck in front of me, but I would quickly toss the stick aside and start kicking the puck around. I did the same when he tried to teach me basketball. My parents realized my passion and nurtured my desire to play soccer and enrolled me in an academy as early as 4 years old. I’ve been playing ever since.

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As a current high school freshman, I am very grateful to have had the chance to showcase my talent against some of the best soccer players in the top soccer nations in the world. In Italy, I scored the only goal for my team against Inter Milan in the Halima Haider Cup. In Germany, I trained with 2 Bundesliga youth academies - FC Ingolstadt and 1860 Munich FC. In Spain, I was my team captain and Golden Boot winner of the Barca Academy World Cup. In Dubai, I represented Canada in the U13 Intercontinental Cup. In Canada, I was identified as a prospect and had the opportunity to train with the MLS club Toronto FC Academy for one year. Most recently in the USA, I was invited to showcase my talent and train with the Barça Academy Pro U16 team.

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These experiences were instrumental in teaching me how to be independent and responsible. Most importantly, I learned that there are many talented players, just like me, who share the same dream. I realize that I have to continually develop to be better, stronger, faster, and smarter than all of them if I want to stand out. I’m driven by, the competition, the wins, and most of all the losses. I watch, I learn, I reflect, and I stay focused. I know that if I persevere, surround myself with positive people, and remain true to my faith and the strong beliefs that my parents and family instilled in me, I will continue to grow. I will become a professional soccer player at the highest level.

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My expectations are high, and I truly believe that I have what it takes to “make the difference”.