Superdome soccer video goes viral

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Jessica Cunha

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Two young soccer players who practise at the Ben Franklin Superdome in Nepean are attracting praise for their skills after posting a video online.

Dylan Lawrence, 17, and Stephen Veenema, 16, who both play for Ottawa South United, created a video of themselves performing tricks at various landmarks in the nation's capital.

"We (did) it for kicks," said Dylan. "Pardon the pun."

The video, titled "Downtown Ottawa Footy Freestyle," has already been viewed over 8,600 times on YouTube and the teenagers received a shout out from Ottawa Tourism for their film.

"They put our video on their website," said Dylan, who edited the film over the course of 40 hours.

UNEXPECTED

"It's kind of overwhelming," he said. "We only expected our friends (to watch)."

"I was really surprised," said Stephen. "It's huge."

The two teenagers spent three days downtown with friend Chris Orzel, who filmed the shots. Dylan and Stephen can be seen doing a variety of tricks outside the Parliament Building, inside the Rideau Centre, near the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park and city hall.

"I couldn't believe at that age they could put something like that together," said Dylan's father, Dean Lawrence. "I thought that video was awesome."

The hardest trick to complete was when the two passed the ball between them while high up on a stone structure.

"If I fell I was falling two-storeys so I tried to be careful," said Dylan, adding most of the tricks only took one or two tries to complete.

"The ball sticks to their foot," said Stephen's father Al Veenema. "We're very proud of them."

The video has netted interest from American college coaches for Dylan and Stephen's soccer playing skills.

Dylan sent the film to a handful of coaches before heading to the Disney Showcase Tournament in Orlando this past December.

"They gave no promises but said they're interested," said Dylan, a Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Catholic High School.

He and Stephen, a Grade 11 student at Redeemer Christian High School in Nepean, are both hoping for soccer scholarships to a college in the States for a division 1 team.

"There were lots of college coaches at those games (in Orlando)," said Stephen. "It was a great experience."

'FOOTY FREESTYLE'

While in Orlando, the team filmed a second video entitled Orlando Footy Freestyle.

Dylan and Stephen's teammates enjoyed watching their first video so much that they asked to be involved in a second film.

"It's a good memory to have of our trip," said Dylan. "We got as many (teammates) as we could in the video."

Stephen completed six "around the world's" in a row - where the ball is kept in the air while he swings his leg up and around - the most he's ever done.

"It was the hardest," he said. "It's fun."

The two are planning another video in their hometown with different places and better tricks, said Dylan.

Stephen said he's hoping to attempt a "corkscrew" where he bounces the ball off the top of his foot, hits it with his heel while spinning 360 degrees, then completes an around the world - all without letting the ball hit the ground. He's only managed the feat once before.

"We're determined to get that on camera," said Dylan.

Dylan and Stephen practise three nights a week with Ottawa South United at the Ben Franklin Superdome, and at least two nights a week on their own time.

"I love everything about it," said Stephen, who's been playing soccer since he was eight. "It keeps me in shape and it's probably the world's greatest sport. It takes a lot of talent."

"It's kind of a part of me now," said Dylan, who took up the sport at age five. "It's a stress reliever for me and I'm good at it."

To see their videos visit www.youtube.com and search "Downtown Ottawa Footy Freestyle."

jessica.cunha@metroland.com




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