Kenny Caceros hates sitting still.

The Ottawa native and Fury FC midfielder/defender is essentially juggling three jobs -- one of which, obviously, is being a pro soccer player -- and says he wouldn't have it any other way.

The 26-year-old starts most days with a 6 a.m. trip to Greco Fitness, where he works as a trainer, before coming to Fury practice at 8:30. He sometimes heads back to the gym before venturing out to Carp where he's spent the last eight years, on and off, working at the Cheshire Cat Pub.

"I'm having a good time, I'm in a perfect spot now," said Caceros after Fury training Thursday. "It's busy (but) if I sit down and do nothing, I get bored, I'll lose my mind."

As one of two Ottawa-born players -- goalkeeper Chad Bush being the other -- Caceros works to supplement his North American Soccer League salary but also because he loves both other jobs.

As an athlete, the gym is a natural extension of Caceros' life anyway, and the pub is owned by family friends and feels very little like work, he says.

A popular food and drink spot -- recently reopened after a massive fire gutted the old building -- with many regulars, Caceros likens working at the Cheshire to hanging out with friends, many of whom are also soccer fans.

"It's almost like a second family and everyone is genuinely interested in how the team's doing and how I'm doing," Caceros says.

"I enjoy what I do, I wouldn't want it any other way."

As for his main focus that is the soccer pitch, Caceros could be making his first-ever start with Fury FC this weekend when the club hosts Carolina. With only nine minutes of game action in a single, late-match appearance, Caceros says he doesn't dwell on his limited role.

"Sometimes, I'm not going to lie, it can get kind of frustrating," Caceros says. "But when it all boils down, I want to do what's best for the team."

Caceros, who has 23 games of NASL experience from two seasons ago when he was with FC Edmonton, says he comes in with the same attitude and work ethic every day and figured he'd get his chance eventually.

"I have to come in and do my thing every day and that's what I do," he says. "I can't over-think it because that's when problems come up."

Caceros was lining up with other starters on the back line in training Thursday but wasn't taking anything for granted.

"We'll see what happens," he says. "When they call me in, I'll be ready."

If that is this weekend, he's not going to try and reinvent his game.

"I've been doing this for a while," he says. "It wouldn't be any different for me, it would just be another day at the office, I guess. I wouldn't over-think it, I'D just do my job like I do every day."

YOUTH ACADEMY

Fury FC announced Wednesday a new structure for its youth academy, pairing down its previous range of age levels to focus on three elite player divisions.

The club will now operate a junior team (U16-U17) and senior team (U18-U19) for boys and an elite girls division for U16 players and up.

While younger players previously on a Fury side will have to seek out other community teams, Fury FC says it will run regular programming in conjunction with community clubs.

"It's a start of new era for (local) players who hope to one day become professional or one day wear their national colours." Fury FC technical director Phil Dos Santos said Thursday.

"The program will be structured similarly to other professional academies, with Dos Santos, Fury assistant Martin Nash, goalkeeper coach Bruce Grobbelaar and Jimmy Zito all involved as academy coaches.

The restructured academy program will help elite players adapt to professional soccer training by providing "a volume of training, playing and performance analysis which will put players in a soccer environment 4-6 times per week depending on the cycle of work."

SIDELINES

No official word from the club yet but it appears Fury FC is about to sign Jamaican defender O'Brian Woodbine, who has begun training with the club. The free agent, who has suited up for the Jamaican national team as well as clubs in Finland, the United States and his native Jamaica, was most recently with MLS side New England Revolution. He didn't see any first team playing time and was released in June ... Injured defender Drew Beckie (ankle) is increasing the intensity of his workouts but is still about a week away from returning to full training ... Head coach Marc Dos Santos said Tuesday defenders Omar Jarun and Andres Fresenga weren't match fit after returning from injury and the would-be starting back four Thursday saw Mason Trafford and Mauro Eustaquio at centre back with Ramon Soria and Caceros at left and right back, respectively.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley