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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 24, 2010 · 24 24 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY JUNE 24, 2010 Canadian captain brings star power to camp's World Cup By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Paul Stalteri is not used to sitting on the bench. The Brampton native, who will have suited up for Canada's national soccer team more times than any other man the next time he steps on the pitch, has been relegated to spectator status for the moment, though. What's worse is that the group of eight to 13 year old boys and girls kicking the ball around the gym at Wildwood Academy don't even want him on their team. Stalteri is the designated Super Striker -- a team can only pull him off the bench if they are trailing in the game. And with their own World Cup on the line, they would rather not have to call on his services. Finally Germany scores and South Korea calls on the Canadian national team captain for help. He uses deft footwork to manoeuvre around an opponent and dishes a pass across the goal crease. His teammate gets a foot on the ball and sends it wide, then tilts his head back and covers his face with his hands. Germany goes on to win 2-1 despite a goal from the Super Striker and the triumphant team runs a victory lap around the gym. It's the second day at the Fitness and Team Building Camp being run by Wildwood teachers Mike Packowski and Paul Casey and there have already been plenty of thrills. "It was really exciting," says Ella, 9, of her semifinal penalty kick goal that sent the German team through to the final. Ella said she was worried about the appearance of Stalteri for the opposition in the final. But now that her team has won, she's all smiles. Asked if she and her teammates could beat the team led by the Canadian captain again, she nods her head enthusiastically. "Oh yeah," she says. Packowski and Casey started the camp last year with goal of helping kids with learning disabilities feel more confident in team sports. "It helps them dealing with the highs and lows, the positive and negative elements and gives them a safe venue to do that," says Casey. Stalteri has experienced both the highs and lows in soccer. In a time when few Canadians got the MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER BEAUTIFUL GAME: Canadian national soccer team captain Paul Stalteri awaits his chance to join in the game at the Fitness and Team Building Camp at Wildwood Academy. Players at the camp participated in their own World Cup tournament Tuesday and Stalteri shared his experiences in the game with them. opportunity to play professionally, Stalteri "got a bit lucky. Someone saw me play and saw something in me and offered me a pro tryout," he said. "Were there players just as good as me growing up? Sure, there were." He went on to win a German league championship with Werder Bremen, played for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League and helped Canada win a CONCACAF Gold Cup. But this week, as he watches some of his teammates from Borussia Mönchengladbach represent their countries in the World Cup, Stalteri can't help but wish he was in South Africa, too. Just a month ago, he was in Argentina for a friendly -- the home side's final tune-up before the World Cup -- playing in front of 65,000 people and couldn't help but get swept up in the atmosphere. "Imagine Canada the day of the gold medal (Olympic hockey) game," the 32 year old said. "It was that way every day. It's probably the most passionate support I've ever seen." Stalteri says it is the dream of every player to play in the World Cup but knows his chances are running out. "I'd love to be, but it's tough," he says when a camper asks him if he'll be playing in the next World Cup. See Campers page 25