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SURREY, B.C. — A crew of international athletes are looking forward to their first shot at playing in the CFL, but they know they have a lot to learn first.

Defensive lineman Octavio Gonzalez is one of three Mexican players looking to crack the B.C. Lions roster this season, a journey that starts with training camp this week.

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“Especially coming from another country, we’re very excited to make the dream come true,” the 27-year-old said Tuesday. “So we’re going to show what we got and work hard for it.”

The Lions picked Gonzalez seventh overall at the CFL’s first-ever draft in Mexico City in January. The club also picked up wide receivers Gerardo Alvarez and Fernando Richarte.

In April, B.C. took France’s Benjamin Plu at the league’s inaugural European player draft.

“I’m so happy to be here and I’m impatient to start the camp,” Plu said. “I trained hard before to come to do this game so I’m impatient right now.”