Young Bulldog looking to raise funds to represent country in Texas

When 14-year-old Matt Pastro learned he made the cut to play football for U15 Team Canada, the news was bittersweet.

While this Langford teen has the talent and the drive to perform on the field, he doesn't have the money to represent his country B次元官网网址� about $4,000. The game between Team Canada and Team USA is in San Antonio, Texas, in January.

Matt is rising in the football ranks on the heels of his brother Chris Pastro, a starting linebacker for the West Shore Rebels, a top former Bulldog and Team B.C. player. The football brothers live with their mom Elise Pastro in Langford.

B次元官网网址淚t would be a dream come true to play, but I have a single mother who canB次元官网网址檛 provide the thousands of dollars (I would need to go),B次元官网网址� Matt said.

Elise works as a educational assistance for the Sooke School District. When she heard her son made the team she was thrilled, but knew there was no way she could afford to pay for the trip and take a week off work to accompany her son to Texas.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 heart wrenching,B次元官网网址� Elise said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes financial hardship gets in the way.B次元官网网址�

To help Matt play for Team Canada, the Pastros are looking for community support and donations to help send him to Texas.

B次元官网网址淚t is humbling to look to the community to make your sonB次元官网网址檚 dreams come true,B次元官网网址� Elise said.

Making this team was a huge accomplishment for Matt. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the beginning of his lifelong career,B次元官网网址� Elise said.

MattB次元官网网址檚 ultimate goal is to play professional football. As part of his plan to rise to the top, he moved from Cowichan to Langford to play for the Belmont Bulldogs and train with head coach Kevin Harrington.

His next goal is to play for the University of Southern California. The experience of playing for Team Canada will help him move closer to this goal.

B次元官网网址淚 have been playing football for a long time (six years) and itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� Matt said.

Matt was selected to play on Team Canada after he was identified as an elite player through the Football University camp held in Vancouver in March.

Soon after he was invited to submit video footage highlights of his play to Team Canada officials, and he quickly made the cut.

While most kids find it tough to juggle the responsibilities of school, football and family, Matt has taken on three times the pressure.

This season he has played on Belmont secondaryB次元官网网址檚 junior varsity and varsity teams as well as the community team, the Victoria Spartans.

B次元官网网址淗e is great kid who works hard everyday in practice and he is continuing to get better,B次元官网网址� Harrington said. B次元官网网址淲e are expecting big things out of Matt for several years to come.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢ost football players play one game a week, and Matt plays three games a week,B次元官网网址� Elsie said. B次元官网网址淗e is a Grade 9 boy who is going up against Grade 12 boys.B次元官网网址�

Matt attends Spencer middle school and needed permission from Spencer and Belmont schools to play for both teams.

While there are a few junior varsity players who played in varsity games, Matt was the only player this year who played full time on both teams.

B次元官网网址淗e was a difference maker at the junior varsity level for a lot of our plays this season,B次元官网网址� Harrington said.

After the first four JV games Matt was first in the league for tackles. The rest of the stats havenB次元官网网址榯 been finalized.

B次元官网网址淗e loves football, he just loves it,B次元官网网址� Elise said.

Local businesses or individuals can make cheque donations to Elise Pastro c/o Kevin Harrington at Belmont secondary school. Donations can be dropped of at the school at 3067 Jacklin Rd.

The family is also having a bottle drive on Saturday Nov. 19 at Belmont from noon to 5 p.m.

To arrange for bottle pick up or for more information on donating, email Elise at epastro@shaw.ca

sports@goldstreamgazette.com