Cannis began playing so young that, by his own account, he cannot remember falling in love with football. Now, the national team’s performances have added urgency to that ambition.
Nicholas Panait, a 15-year-old midfielder, also remembers kicking a ball with his father. His path has already taken him from a small club in Vaughan to the same fields where Laryea, Larin and Buchanan developed.
“É uma grande inspiração para os jovens da Sigma FC e para quem joga futebol em todo o país ver que seus sonhos são possíveis quando esses jogadores brilham no maior palco,” Panait says.
Bobby Smyrniotis, who coached the trio and now leads Forge FC, believes the academy’s influence extends beyond producing professionals. Sigma players may pursue the professional game, NCAA scholarships or opportunities abroad.
But Smyrniotis says talent was only part of the story.
“Eles tinham alegria pelo jogo. Você pode ter todo o talento do mundo, mas é essa alegria que mantém o impulso,” he says.
That message matters as Canada’s success attracts children who might previously have overlooked football. The legacy may be measured not only in results, but in how many youngsters start playing.
Cannis believes the team’s progress is also changing football’s reputation: “Nós realmente podemos jogar. Não apenas chutamos e corremos”.
The next test will be whether this excitement survives beyond the tournament. For Sigma FC, the most important consequence may be seen years from now, when today’s inspired youngsters begin chasing the same pathway.