Ciccarelli shooting up a storm

St. Vital

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This article was published 06/03/2024 (590 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A former teenage Winnipeg soccer player is making his mark on the international stage.

Tavio Ciccarelli, 17, was recently part of the Canadian squad that took part in the 2024 Concacaf men’s U20 championship qualifying tournament.

The three-game group stage took place in Trinidad and Tobago, where Canada won all three of its games – against Dominica on Feb. 23 (8-0), St. Vincent and The Grenadines on Feb. 25 (4-0), and the host nation on Feb. 27 (3-0).

Ciccarelli, who played for Bonivital Soccer Club between 2014 and 2018 and is currently a member of the U18 set-up of English Premier League club Sheffield United, was a key member of the Canadian squad at the recent qualifiers, scoring three goals in the match against St. Vincent and The Grenadines.

Calling Ciccarelli’s progress a “solid foundation” moving forward, Canadian men’s U20 head coach Andrew Olivieri said he’s been impressed with the teen’s recent performances on the pitch.

“I’ve been really impressed with Tavio,” Olivieri said shortly after the final game against Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 27.

“I love his personality, his professionalism, and his commitment to the game. He’s shown some real quality in games — his movement in tight spaces, the timing of his movements — things that lots of players don’t have at that age.”

Manitoba Soccer Association’s technical lead, Chris Lourenco, crossed paths with Ciccarelli when the teen was involved in the local soccer scene growing up.

“From what I remember, he had lots of personality and was very talented. He was definitely noticeable,” Lourenco said.

Lourenco said the fact Ciccarelli is based in England will be helpful as he progresses through the ranks, and he said it’s also a testament to the development he had while living in the province.

“When you have tournaments such as this, people tend to notice these things, and there’s a sense of pride in the province. It’s nice to know that Bonivital and Manitoba have had a little part to play in his success.”

Visit canadasoccer.com for more information.