TORONTO — Like a lot of kids growing up in Canada, Sergio Camargo aspired to become a pro soccer player.
Born in Colombia, but raised in Newmarket, Ont., Camargo knew he’d probably have to go to Europe to chase his dream. So in 2009, he travelled to Portugal, where he went on trial with Vitoria de Guimaraes, a club from the northern part of the country. Camargo impressed, and at the end of his trial he was offered a contract to remain and train with Guimaraes. His dream appeared to be coming true.
There was one problem, though. Camargo was only 15 at the time, and because he was still a minor, FIFA rules stipulated that his parents had to move to Portugal. That just wasn’t feasible for Camargo’s family, so the teenager moved back to Newmarket.
But the story doesn’t end there. Camargo joined Toronto FC‘s youth academy later that same year, and he even played for the Reds against English giants Liverpool in 2012 in a friendly held at Rogers Centre. He went on to play NCAA soccer, splitting his time between Coastal Carolina University and Syracuse University, before signing his first pro contract with Toronto FC this past January—because Camargo was previously in the team’s youth system, TFC was able to sign him as a homegrown player and didn’t have to draft him.
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So, in the end, it all worked out for Camargo, now 22, who gets to live out his dream while playing for his hometown club in Major League Soccer. And while Camargo has fond memories of his brief time in Portugal, he doesn’t worry about the path not taken, about what might have been had he been allowed stay with Guimaraes.
“I’ve barely thought about it, to be honest. I’ve had so many great opportunities since then that there’s no regret or any letdowns over what happened. [My dad] was sad that I wasn’t allowed to sign, but he supported me in coming back. Both my parents never said, ‘No, you’re staying and fighting it.’ They recognized I had an opportunity here to play with TFC and possibly have a career here,” Camargo told Sportsnet in a recent one-on-one interview.
“I wouldn’t say it was frustrating. It was actually a great experience [in Portugal]. It was scary at first. I remember my first few days there, it was very lonely; it was hard to get used to. But I loved every second of it. The team was great. They treated me very well. I never look back and say, ‘I can’t believe it didn’t pan out for me.’”
Still, it couldn’t have been easy for a teenager in a foreign land to have his dream crushed, especially when you consider Camargo didn’t even know about the FIFA rule at first.
“I was in limbo. I was practising with the team still, and had I actually signed with them a week or two before—we were just waiting to get the word from FIFA. I remember the day I found out. I was stretching at practice, and the club owner came over to the coach and started talking to him, and I just had a feeling that it was over. They told me later that day they weren’t able to sign me because FIFA sent back the papers,” Camargo recalled.
He later added: “I could have stayed in Portugal for six months as an amateur and then tried to sign on as a pro, or I had to come back. Since TFC was an option at the time, I decided to come back.”
What lies ahead for Camargo is a challenging 2017 MLS season in which the talented Canadian midfielder will try to force his way into a TFC side known for its midfield depth. With players of the calibre of U.S. captain Michael Bradley eating up the majority of minutes, playing time will likely be scarce for Camargo, who has his work cut out to earn opportunities.
“It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but I’m up for it — I’m up for the challenge. There are so many veterans here that I’m going to have to take their spot if I even dream of getting on the field,” Camargo said.
“But we’re also going to have lots of games where they’re going to rest, so that’s when I’m going to have to take my chance and show what I can do. I’m confident in my abilities, and if it takes longer than I dream of, that’s fine.”
Coach Greg Vanney feels Camargo offers something unique compared to the other midfielders on the team.
“He’s a hybrid between a second forward and an attacking midfielder. He’s a different piece that is interesting for us. He’s got an interesting shift of pace and ability to get himself facing forward, and look to play forward and he moves the game,” Vanney explained.
Camargo has clear objectives in mind when he does eventually get playing time.
“My goal is to produce as much as I can for [Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore]. That’d be the perfect situation. That’s my plan,” Camargo offered
“I’ve always heard that I’m quick on the turn and I’m agile—that’s how I beat my markers, not with pure speed but with a fake and I go past him.”
Sportsnet’s Soccer Central podcast (featuring James Sharman, Thomas Dobby, Brendan Dunlop and John Molinaro) takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues.
