Niko Sigur has dreams of a Danone Cup repeat.
The 11-year-old Burnaby soccer player was over the moon when he heard he had been selected to the Canada West team for the Danone Nations Cup national final to be held in Montreal in July.
Last year, the West team of select 10- to 12-year-olds defeated the East 3-1 in the Canadian final.
The winner of this year’s national championship game will earn a berth to the Nation’s Cup world championship tournament to be held in Morocco.
“It was a really big accomplishment for me,” said the Grade 6 St. Helen’s Elementary School student. “I was really hoping to make it, so I was happy when I made (the team). It’s pretty cool, so hopefully we can make it back-to-back years.”
Niko, who plays centre midfield for the high performance League Mountain United under-13s, had made the Danone Cup team a goal of his this season.
“I know a lot of people who have tried out and they have seen the opportunities you can have as part of the team,” he said.
Niko will miss the last week of school to join the team back east in preparation for the Canadian final on July 3.
The North Burnaby product began his soccer odyssey at the age of five at Cliff Avenue. His father introduced him to the beautiful game and it has been Niko’s passion ever since.
“I found a higher passion for this sport and I really enjoy it,” Niko said.
Two years ago, Niko made a move to Port Moody, where he played a year up on a u-12 development team. He returned to Cliff last season, where he finished up last season on a u-13 club side as an underage player.
“I describe myself as a hard-working little player,” Niko said. “I just do the best I can every time. Yeah, every game and practice that’s where I can improve. I just try to get better, look at my mistakes, fix them and do my best.”
When it comes to sports of any kind, Niko appears to like being right in the middle of things.
Niko plays on the school basketball team. He also plays wide receiver and defensive back with the Burnaby City Chargers flag football team.
Niko previously won a B.C. baseball championship banner in Trail with Hastings Little League, where he played catcher and outfield and was the lead-off batter on the 10/11 squad.
He also plays centre for his Burnaby Minor hockey team and, on top of it all, gets good grades in school.
But May 27 was the day he was waiting for. That was when Niko found out he made the team.
At the appointed noon-time hour the Danone team announcement was to be made, he called home. When Niko heard he had made the list, he hung up the phone abruptly in his excitement.
A St. Helen’s school chum of his, Brandon Torresan, was also named to the Western squad.
“We have to be positive and always have fun, and keep working hard,” Niko said in order to reach all the goals he has set for himself.
“I really want to grow up and be a professional soccer player and go to places like Europe,” he said.
Canada placed a best-ever sixth at the Danone Nation’s Cup in 2011.
A Canadian team also finished in eighth place on two other occasions in 2001 and again in 2007. In 2004, the Canadian representative team also won a fair play award.
