All Simon Guardiero wanted to do growing up was score goals.
But the Guelph native quickly realized it wasn't his strong suit on the pitch, and moved to the defensive side of soccer.
Safe to say, the 16-year-old is doing alright on the back end, getting an invite to last week's national under-17 domestic camp in Montreal, competing for a spot on the national team for next February's CONCACAF championship in Guatemala.
"It was pretty cool, I never really experienced something like that," the centre back told GuelphToday.
"It was really cool experiencing it for the first time. It was a very professional environment, it was very structured, and it was very serious 99 per cent of the time."
Guardiero, a Grade 11 student at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, has come a long way from going to his grandparents house, playing soccer in the hallway with his nonno, starting the sport at the age of four.
He began his journey in the Guelph area before moving on to Sigma FC's youth soccer academy in Mississauga when he was 11, where he's been honing his skills ever since.
On the back end, he doesn't shy away from running the ball up when he gets the opportunity. But Guardiero said he knows being defensively strong is the most important part of his role.
"While you're on the ball, you need to connect at least 90 per cent of your passes," he said. "Everything has to be there. Your feet have to be there, but at the same time, you have to be there mentally and you have to be mentally strong."
The jury is still out on who will claim roster spots for next year's tournament, a qualifier for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Peru in 2023.
For Guardiero, it's a toss up, based on the talent pool he witnessed first hand.
"There was no one who stood out," he said. "Everyone there was so talented, everyone had skill, and I think most importantly, everyone wanted to go work."
The goal beyond the national program is to be the next Sigma FC alumni to move into the professional ranks, joining the likes of Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan and Richard Laryea, who will all be a part of Canada's roster at next month's World Cup.
Guardiero has eyes on the NCAA ranks, with hopes of playing for Division I Syracuse University. He's also keeping watch of Europe, wanting to try out for an academy across the pond.
