Mateo Goldsztein to join Caper men’s soccer program

Mateo Goldsztein to join Caper men's soccer program

Midfielder making move from Winnipeg to Sydney

By Corey LeBlanc

After stops in Uruguay and Winnipeg, the next location on Mateo Goldsztein's soccer journey is Sydney – Cape Breton, not Australia.

The 17-year-old recently committed to the Cape Breton Capers men's soccer program.

Goldsztein and his family lived in his native South American country until they made the move to the provincial capital of Manitoba when he was two years old.

"Straightaway," he remembers of his start playing soccer in his new home country.

Like countless Canadian youngsters, he took the pitch for the first time with the Timbits minor program.

"I fell in love [with soccer] and have been playing ever since," Goldsztein says.

He is now a member of the Winnipeg South End United and Manitoba Whitecaps Academy Centre programs.

As he continued his climb at the club level, the Grade 12 student – more and more – started to think he could play at the university level.

"I am not the biggest," Goldsztein says, with a laugh, when asked about what he hopes to bring to the Caper program.

But, the midfielder adds, he is "definitely not the slowest."

Goldsztein, in describing his game, says he is a hard-working technical player.

He notes he is unafraid to "do the dirty work," while making a "challenge or two."

"I keep it simple – try to move the ball around," Goldsztein explains.

Caper head coach Deano Morley describes him as a "gifted young technical player."

"We are looking forward to having the opportunity to see him develop and how far he can go in our program," he says.

Morley adds the incoming freshman "knows it is going to be a big jump," when it comes to taking the pitch at the U Sports level.

Noting his tremendous potential, he notes the Caper program is "so excited" about where Goldsztein will be "in the next three to four years."

When asked about his decision to attend CBU, he says he started researching post-secondary programs in Grade 10.

"They were on my radar – right away," Goldsztein says, noting the Capers were coming off their 2017 U Sports men's championship gold medal.

He adds he knew CBU had a "great program," a top-5 school and perennial contender.

"It had a real community feel," Goldsztein says of the Capers' appeal.

Along with the second-to-none athletic opportunity, he adds the "small school," including class sizes, drew his attention academically.

He wants to become an Academic All-Canadian.

"I am really focused on doing well in school," he says.

In the classroom, he will enrol in the Bachelor of Arts program, majoring in psychology.

"I know you probably hear it a lot," Goldsztein says, with a laugh, of his professional soccer aspirations, when asked about his future plans.

If that doesn't pan out, he notes, his attention will turn to using his academic interests.

"I will see where that takes me," he adds of his passion for psychology.

When it comes to on-field goals during his time at CBU, Goldsztein is shooting for "breaking into the top group of players" on the Caper roster.

"I am going to take the time to learn from the older players," he says, noting the importance of having patience in reaching that level.

As for moving to the east coast, Goldsztein notes he has heard a great deal about the beauty of this part of the country, including the niceness of the people.

"I can't wait to get there," he says.

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