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When Andrew Sydoruk played his first seven-a-side soccer game last summer he was immediately struck by its intensity and how little time he had to think with the ball.

Played on a field half the size of a regulation pitch, there is little time and there always seemed to be an opponent in his face.

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“It’s more tactical and more skilled-based,” the 22 year old said.

“You don’t have time on the ball. You may be have one second, two seconds maximum.

“With 11-a-side you have time to get the ball, stop, look up and decide. With seven, people are pressuring you the instant you have the ball.”

Only a few months after being introduced to the game at the inaugural F7 Outdoor Soccer Tournament in Calgary, Sydoruk found himself playing at the World F7 club championship in Brazil, where he caught the eye of scouts from Brazilian professional clubs Vasco de Gama and Fluminense. For one of them, it apparently involved more than a passing interest.