Editor (Al Clark):
In what is going to be a series of blogs following young aspiring players as they pursue the dream of playing professional soccer in Europe or beyond, we will get a first-hand account of life as a Canuck Abroad.

From the original motivating factors, through the trial, to the contract, to the training sessions, to the match day and beyond. This is an opportunity for all of us to see what it takes to become a pro player, especially as a Canadian in game abroad.

Our first blogger is Ronnie Vass, who has recently joined the youth set up at Hungarian Second Division outfit, Kecskemet TE - currently riding high near the top of their league and pushing hard for a place in the top flight in 2008/09.

"Chasing the Dream in the Land of my Father"
by Ronnie Vass.
Hungary for Success
My name is Ronald Vass (Ronnie for short) I am 17 years old born feb 1 1991. I have been playing football (soccer) in a competitive league in Ontario, Canada since I was 12 years old.

I first played with Leaside Soccer Club in the lowest division in Ontario for 2 seasons( 12-14) then I went to play with Etobicoke youth soccer club. At the end of that season I met Francois Glasman through a coach at North Scarborough Soccer Club (Duke Swaby). Later at 16 I went to play for Newmarket Soccer Club I played a year up, we played in OYSL (Ontario youth soccer league) the highest youth league in Ontario.

Most of my life I have been living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada I spent some years as an infant in Mississauga, Ontario. My family (Mother and Father) are both Hungarian both grew up in Vac, Hungary. Both of their families live in Vac to this day. My Dad was on a try-out for Vac’s youth team when he was 13 he made the final team for the youth. He also played handball as a youth in a top handball league in Hungary. My Mother was a kayaker for a few years she came second in a meet. My Sister is in an art school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada hopeful to become an artist and my Brother works construction right now.

At the end of my 3rd season playing competitive football I met the Shooting Stars Soccer International training crew (Francois Glasman and Clayton Rosario). I trained with Francois for one week in the last week of August 2007. Then I trained every Saturday for a few months (September-November) then I started to train 2 times a week indoor with Francois, Clayton and Junior Groves (a new addition to the Shooting Stars crew). I trained with them until the end of June (May we started to train outside). Then a few days before school was over I got an e-mail from Clayton Rosario asking if I would like to train up at his place with a small group of people for 3 weeks. In this email it also said that he has an opportunity for me in Hungary.

I trained every day for hours and hours preparing to come to Hungary in February 2008. Clayton has a friend who is relatives with a guy who is the technical director of Kecskemet TE. When I first heard that I was going to Hungary I was excited like any kid or person (I also got a job so I would have money when I got there) would be but then time went on and I heard nothing about details so I started to think if I might not be going. So I started to get nervous but then I started getting information that I would be going so I started to get confident and train really hard.

To prepare to come here I started to lift weights at 7 am before school 3 times a week and I joined my cross country and indoor track & field team to get strong and fit. Then when the day came that I left (February 8 2008) I became excited, happy and sad (because I was leaving for football but leaving my Mom, Dad, Brother and Sister). Hungary was a 10 hour flight away, when I first got there I met my family I was very excited to see them for the first time ever. Then 5 days later I had to leave to go to Kecskemet, Hungary. I was eager to start playing football with the team and see how good these kids are. After my family left to go home to Vac I became very, very sad because I had no one in Kecskemet.
Hugarian: It's like a whole 'nother language!
I started to doubt that it was a real trial because I did not hear from anyone if I was there for training or a trial.

Ever since I was 12 I wanted to play professional football in Europe. Not for any particular reason Europe, but just Europe. I decided that I would not want to pursue professional football in North America (MLS) because I saw a few games on T.V. and I didn’t like the style of football they were playing [Editor: It's certainly improved and with players like Beckham, Blanco and Gallardo, will continue to do so]. In grade 9 when I was 14 I got into an athletics school in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada called Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute the program is called BEAP (Birchmount’s Exceptional Athlete Program) and when I first got there I was probably the most disrespected kid there for football (soccer) everyone said I was bad, everyone laughed at me when we played. This happening pushed me to play better and better and in grade 10 (at the end of the year) I was playing for one of the best teams in Ontario and one year up to and then I got to go to Europe one year later. My dream would to play for Bayern Munich in Germany but I would take any where to be professional in Europe. I am very determined to sign a professional contract somewhere in Europe and to get this I will be training every day (lifting weights, working on ball skill and speed agility endurance work)

Editor (Al Clark):
From various conversations I have had since starting this site, it's easy to understand Ronnie's confusion and aprehension; as a 17 year old in another country, so many questions go through your head but as with many before him, Ronnie is having to fend for himself. Communication can often be at a premium at this stage, so once an introduction is in place, it is largely the responsibility of the youngster and his family to take the subsequent steps. As a youth player, agents are really a minor part - if any - in the process, and a considerable amount of self-motivation, planning and discipline is required, as well as the financial means to cover many of the expenses incurred.

Until a player is ready to sign a professional deal, there is little immediate return for an agent, and with so many kids passing through various systems to never make it, getting an agent - or anyone with connections - to make something happen for you can often be near impossible. At best, it's a long shot.

I want to congratulate Ronnie, for his passion in the game, and his belief and for having the drive and courage to go abroad to pursue his dream. All of us at CA wish him well in the future at Kecskemet TE and beyond.

Ronnie will be contributing on a regular basis, and player blogs will soon be added to the directory to make them even easier to follow. There are a couple of other players who will join Ronnie in giving us the inside track on becoming a Canuck Abroad in the coming weeks.