Local phenom excels in world of F7 soccer
Brazil's Fluminense in final negotiations to land Sydoruk
When Andrew Sydoruk played his first seven- a- side soccer game last summer he was immediately struck by its intensity and how little time he had to think with the ball.
Played on a field half the size of a regulation pitch, there is little time and there always seemed to be an opponent in his face.
“It’s more tactical and more skilled- based,” the 22- year- old said.
“You don’t have time on the ball. You may be have one second, two seconds maximum.
“With 11- a- side you have time to get the ball, stop, look up and decide. With seven, people are pressuring you the instant you have the ball.”
Only a few months after being introduced to the game at the inaugural F7 Outdoor Soccer Tournament in Calgary, Sydoruk found himself playing at the World F7 club championship in Brazil, where he caught the eye of scouts from Brazilian professional clubs Vasco da Gama and Fluminense. For one of them, it apparently involved more than a passing interest.
“We are working on the final negotiations with Fluminense to have him go there and they are going to go public with it ( Wednesday),” said Daniel Balcorta, the founder and president of the Calgarybased Canada Soccer Federation, who formed the Global Style FC to participate in international seven- a- side events.
Balcorta created the Canadian Soccer Federation to serve as a governing body for seven- a- side in Canada and he operated a Calgary winter league for the first time in 2014- 15 with four teams. He’s said he’s talking to representatives from Okotoks, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat about adding clubs in those cities for next winter.
Balcorta is a former professional who moved to Calgary from Mexico with his family in 2009. He organized last year’s seven- a- side tournament in Calgary and drew eight teams. Balcorta already has 16 lined up for this year’s tournament from June 19- 21, with room for more in both women’s and men’s divisions.
Balcorta saw Sydoruk play in his first tournament last year, tracked him down, and asked him to join Global Style FC for two tournaments in Brazil, including the World F7 championships, where Canada finished fifth. Balcorta also plays for the team.
Global Style FC is heading back to Brazil for the America’s Cup June 11- 14 to face Vasco da Gama, Nacional de Uruguay and San Agustin. Balcorta said that tournament will broadcast in Brazil and could draw more than 17 million viewers.
“The ( Fluminense) coach is very excited to have Andrew,” Balcorta said. “When we go there in June for the tournament it may be his last game with Global Style. He could be staying there.”
Sydoruk currently plays Calgary club soccer with Hoods FC in Division 1. Between the ages of 16 to 18 he trained with both Toronto FC Academy and London FC.
“After I turned 18 to pretty much when Dan found me I was going to school ( SAIT) and trying to figure out what I was trying to do in life. All of a sudden this is happening,” he said.
Balcorta’s goal is to build sevenaside up enough in Canada to form a national league by 2017.
“F7 is a full experience, it’s not just organizing a bunch of games and going and having fun, it’s a whole atmosphere,” he said.
“We have music ( while the games are on) and we build sort of a small stadium. It’s quick and it keeps you on your toes. It’s very exciting.”
F7 is a full experience, it’s not just organizing a bunch of games and going and having fun, it’s a whole atmosphere.
DANIEL BALCORTA