Unlike the North American pro staples football, baseball, basketball and hockey, which restock mostly through the draft, pro soccer clubs worldwide long have had a tradition of developing potential future players through their own academy programs.
That tradition will take young Victoria soccer players Andre Earthy-Find, Liam McManaman and Charlie Miller to live and train on the Lower Mainland in the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Under-18 program. It鈥檚 the first step for those with a chance, and it remains a longshot with the competition unyielding, of eventually making the Major League Soccer team.
But there鈥檚 a saying about a dream deferred being a dream denied. So why not take the chance? Bays United product Adam Straith did, leaving the Island for the Whitecaps Residency U-18 program in a career that didn鈥檛 take him to the Whitecaps but a pro soccer career in Europe and 26 caps for sa国际传媒.
All-rounder Earthy-Find made the sa国际传媒 rugby sevens team for his age group, is a four-handicap golfer and was on the Oak Bay High junior basketball team. But having also lived in Mexico and Chile 鈥� his dad Ingvard is in international agriculture 鈥� gave Earthy-Find a primary passion for soccer.
鈥淚鈥檝e loved this sport since I was very young. It changes every day. It鈥檚 never the same. I am probably going to miss everyone at home in Victoria, but I鈥檓 excited and grateful for the opportunity in the Whitecaps Residency,鈥� said Earthy-Find, a six-foot-one swing performer who can play both back and forward on the left side.
Earthy-Find has a specific path in mind: 鈥淓ver since I was young, I wanted to be a pro in soccer. I would like to go to university or straight to the pros.鈥�
If it鈥檚 the former, Earthy-Find has an ideal school in mind.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the University of Washington Huskies because I really liked how Jamie Clark coached at the ID camps I was at with him,鈥� said Earthy-Find.
The academic side of things won鈥檛 be an issue in the Pac-12, or anywhere else for Earthy-Find, a straight-A student who plans on studying math, science or business.
Asked what makes him a potential pro, Earthy-Find said: 鈥淚 believe I read the game well and, mentally, can handle the stress and don鈥檛 argue with the refs.鈥�
Earthy-Find, McManaman and Miller are out of the Victoria Highlanders Prospects team.
鈥淚t was unbelievable . . . the best program I鈥檝e been in,鈥� said Earthy-Find.
The Island trio join the Whitecaps Residency U-18 program on Aug. 18.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the opportunity to play at the next level and progress from there,鈥� said McManaman.
But it entails a switch in Grade 12 to Burnaby Central Secondary from Claremont.
鈥淚t will definitely be different, but I know a lot of the players in the program who will also be [at Burnaby Central],鈥� said central attacker McManaman, who at six-foot-three, provides an enticing target.
Asked to describe his game, McManaman, said: 鈥淚 believe I鈥檓 athletic and powerful and can think myself through the game.鈥�
Miller, out of Bays United and Gorge, is also a centre forward.
McManaman is still sorting through CIS and NCAA options for the year after next.
鈥淵ou always need [an academic] back-up plan,鈥� said McManaman, who was also a volleyball player for Claremont.
