Sebastien Johnson lived every kid's dream during a pickup game of soccer with Ottawa's pro footballers Monday.

After he booted home a second goal, students in a packed gym at De La Salle high school erupted in cheers and chanted "MVP" before the eight-year-old found the ball on his foot again, ready for a third strike.

Ottawa Fury FC, the city's new pro soccer franchise, brought its players to the school as a mini-showcase in what more resembled a pep rally. When the formalities were done, the players split sides and joined with youths, including members of the high school’s soccer teams, in a few friendly matches.

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After the games, the players were mobbed by students looking for autographs and selfies with the young pros.

Girls in the stands chanted "Hey Nicki, you're so fine" and Scottish-born midfielder Nicki Paterson looked over his shoulder with a grin, kissed his fingers and waived to his new fans.

The Fury is mining this grassroots support going into its first season playing in the North American Soccer League. Training camp opens March 3 at Complexe Branchaud-Briere in Gatineau and players will be spending the coming days building their relationships before hitting the pitch.

Coach Marc Dos Santos likes the team he has assembled to date. He wants a squad of 24 players and has 16 on the club's roster so far. Eight other players have been invited to try out.

Part of the test in building an expansion club is wooing talent.

A punishing Ottawa winter can’t be helpful in attracting players, especially when the league includes teams from the toasty southern U.S.

"There are challenges all the time," Dos Santos said. "You have to sell them with the right project. There are players who have other opportunities."

For example, the Fury was lucky to sign striker Tom Heinemann as multiple teams courted his scoring services for the upcoming season. Same goes with Paterson.

"Everything we're building with the new Lansdowne and TD Place and the OSEG family, I think that's the best way to get them," Dos Santos said. "Year One was to create a very, very good core and I think we have more than a good core."

Now it’s time to build team chemistry, but Heinemann thinks it will be easier than some might think.

"The good thing about football is it's a language, too,” Heinemann said. “The guys speak that language and the guys know how each other plays. You get on the field and things just happen."

jon.willing@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @JonathanWilling