Tynan Diaz's brief time with the reserves of English Coca-Cola Championship League club Birmingham City was like a shot of ice-water to the face.
"Everyone, from those on the 16-year-olds' team to the first-team Birmingham players, were 100 per cent focused on football. It's no joke out there at that level," said Diaz, one of the intriguing invitees as the Victoria Highlanders of the United Soccer League's Premier Development League opened camp yesterday at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
Diaz also got a look with French Second Division side Amiens. The
Aussie defender can obviously play and his next round of soccer travels took him to British Columbia. He starred this season on the Columbus Clan of Vancouver's Premier Division, scoring both goals Sunday for his club in a 3-2 Province Cup Sweet 16 loss to Surrey.
"Defence is my No. 1 job so it was quite something to score twice in a Province Cup game," noted Diaz, whose longest club stint has been with hometown Wollongong Wolves FC of the Australian League Second Division.
Although soccer remains a secondary sport in Australia behind cricket, rugby and even swimming, the 23-year-old Diaz noted there is an emerging younger generation of kids that became attuned to the Beautiful Game when the Socceroos -- the national side -- began nearly qualifying for the World Cup before breaking through in 2006 at Germany with a Round of 16 appearance.
"When the Socceroos started getting some results internationally, that's when the recent soccer boom began in Australia," said Diaz.
Diaz was sold long before that.
"I did all the Aussie stuff -- played rugby league and I love the beach and surfing -- but soccer was my game since my dad put me into it at age five or six."
As an indicator of how keen Aussies are about
athletics, students have the option of attending sports schools, which Diaz did at Illawarra Sports High School.
"The weather and being surrounded by water is a big part of why Aussies are so keen on being fit and physical," he noted.
The Highlanders are hoping some of that famed Aussie sporting prowess rubs off on their inaugural season in the PDL, the main amateur training ground for the professional USL.
"In my short time here, I've noticed just how much the Island community is into sports -- they even have surfing up in Tofino," said Diaz.
"Soccer seems to be a big part of the sports scene here and I would love nothing more than to make the Highlanders and be a part of this organization and where it wants to go. I'm a hard-working player with a lot of confidence."
Highlanders head coach Colin Miller noticed Diaz during an open tryout, from which the Aussie was invited to the main camp. Other notable unsigned players invited to camp include former U-17 Canada players Rory Kennedy and Jason Devenish, former U-20 Canada and Sheffield United youth team player Thomas Lindley and Jazdeep Toor, who in 2004 played for Pablos Milas of the Greek Second Division.
Camp continues all week, leading to an exhibition game Saturday at 12:15 p.m. against PDL rival Abbotsford Mariners at the PISE field located on the Camosun College Interurban campus.
Victoria opens the regular season with four road games in the PDL, starting May 1 against the Spiders in Spokane.
