With the growing love for soccer in Ottawa and across the country, the young player now has the chance to prove himself in Dubai at a professional club with the help of a local soccer league.

Abdulaziz Al-Hamoud, who moved to Ottawa from Iraq with his family in 2018, said: "I've been playing soccer since I was eight years old."

The 19-year-old player dreams of playing with professionals, and he is just one step away from achieving this goal after recently participating in the Super League Ottawa championship.

He said: "I've been waiting for this opportunity my whole life and I worked hard to get it." "It was a wonderful feeling, even with my family watching me."

Al-Hamoud was selected from among 150 players to travel to Dubai for a professional trial with the Al-Qabilah Football Club, a soccer club founded by professional soccer player Suhail Faraham in Ottawa.

Faraham wanted to give back to his community by providing one player the opportunity to play professionally on his team through the Super League Ottawa.

Aziz Haddad, the CEO of the Super League, said: "We will cover the cost of his trip and pay for his accommodation." "That’s why the premier league exists here."

Haddad says that Al-Hamoud's speed, skill, and ability to perform well under pressure stood out in the championship, even against Canadian soccer star Jonathan David and other professional soccer players who also participated in the tournament.

Haddad said: "Soccer is a sport that doesn’t need any language; anyone can understand it, and anyone can play it."

“We just need to do our best to promote it as much as possible, provide opportunities, and continue to grow this sport. It’s a global sport. Every country has many people. They just need to be noticed. They just need some attention.”