Calgary Minor Soccer Player Spotlight: #8 Badre, U10 Chinook Lazio
Badre, a Calgary minor soccer natural
By April Cruz
There are some Calgary minor soccer players who were simply born with a talent for the game. Meet Badre, player # 8 on the U10 Chinook Lazio team.
At the early age of one, his father recalls Badre kicking a soccer ball, and he hasn’t stopped since.
From left to right: Little brother, Bachar and Badre. Photo: April Cruz
The ability to kick and pass the ball with a precision many have to work long and hard towards mastering, comes naturally for Badre.
When asked how he thinks that happened, this modest, young boy merely shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve always loved the game,” he said.
His father, originally from Morocco, a place where all that matters is soccer when it comes to sports, noticed early on and encouraged his son by playing with him.
‘He’s the one who’s played with me since I was small,” said Badre, motioning to his father.
“I saw that he kicked the ball since he was young, and that he liked it. It was a natural thing for him to do,” said his father, Bachar.
His mother did the job of finding a club and having him registered, from then on, his father has been on the sidelines.
Originally with the Signal Hill club, Badre switched to Chinook when a close friend started to play there.
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When it comes to what this under 10 player sees as some of the perks of playing soccer, he spoke of travelling and competing.
“You get to go places that not every one goes to and you get to compete,” he shared. “I like the element of competition.”
The furthest he has travelled to play so far is Edmonton, an experience that he recalled fondly. He is looking forward to travelling more as he progresses.
The waking hours of Badre’s days are literally filled with soccer, all year round.
“Either he’s having fun playing (soccer) or he’s on Youtube watching players or he’s playing soccer on his Xbox. That’s all he does,” said his father, Bachar.
When it comes to watching a particular team in action, he has a soft spot for Barcelona. He is able to rattle off the current roster of players for the team and hopes to someday play for them.
This Calgary minor soccer player’s favourite food before a game is sushi. An unexpected answer.
This fall, Badre will be heading into grade six and naturally, soccer is going to be his priority outside and around the hours he has to sit still in class. A task that is challenging for this energetic athlete.
During the play time that he and his father still enjoy together, they talk about areas to work on and ways to improve.
“My dad wants me to work on my sprints, being able to really take off when I get the ball,” he said.
His father is proud of Badre’s abilities, and supports the idea of him taking soccer to the highest level he can.
“He has a natural ability for precision passing, a sharp eye on the field, and a great team attitude,” said Bachar.
Badre also has an energetic four year old brother. He too plays soccer but simply because his big brother does.
“I don’t think he’s going to be a soccer player, you can tell from the beginning,” his father said while laughing, resting a loving hand on his youngest son’s head. “This one I knew from the beginning that he would play soccer,” Bachar said motioning to Badre, then back to his little one. “This one, I knew that he wouldn’t .”
There’s many options for the little one to chose from.
For Badre however, it’s clear. He has chosen soccer and it does appear that soccer has chosen him.
Category: Soccer
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