Dario Zanatta of Victoria, originally looking to the Vancouver Whitecaps, took a chance on the U.K. and has never regretted the gamble.
The Islander continues his rapid ascent in soccer by being named Wednesday to Canada’s U-20 roster for friendlies against Costa Rica in San Jose on Sept. 1 and Sept. 3.
The Hearts pro from the Scottish Premiership joins 18 other Canadian pro and university players from eight countries as camp opens Tuesday in Toronto. All 19 players are eligible for CONCACAF and FIFA U-20 play for 2017.
“This camp gives us an opportunity to assess some players that have been in a European environment . . . and also assess players long-term for our men’s national team program,” said Canadian U-20 coach Rob Gale, in a statement.
Originally thought to be headed to the Hearts youth team, Zanatta played in 13 regular-league and one League Cup game last season for Hearts of the Premiership after making his first-team debut at age 18 on Oct. 31. He made an immediate impact on coach Robbie Neilson. The original two-year contract Zanatta signed with Hearts last August was extended this year to May of 2019.
Zanatta grew up at the soccer pitch when his dad, Dante Zanatta, coached Victoria United of the Pacific Coast Soccer League.
“If it wasn’t for all the great coaches I had, starting at a young age playing for Gorge F.C. and Lower Island Metro, I know none of this could have happened,” said Dario Zanatta, when he signed his original two-year deal with Hearts last year.
Dario grew up in a sporting family. Dad Dante is now a CIS head coach of UBC-Okanagan of the Canada West Conference. Dario’s brother Keegan, a swimmer in the CIS with the UBC Thunderbirds, came up at Saanich Commonwealth Place swimming with Olympic-medallists Ryan Cochrane and Hilary Caldwell.
