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RedNation Online recently had the opportunity to speak with Pedro Pacheco, a 26 year old Canadian midfielder who plays for Clube Desportivo Santa Clara in the Liga de Honra in Portugal. Pacheco made his debut for Canada in 2010 in a friendly played in Venezuela and it has recently been announced that he will suit up for Canada again against Greece on February 9th, 2011.
Born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores of Canadian descent, Pacheco began his football career in the regional leagues, playing with Vitória Clube do Pico da Pedra. In the 2003, he moved to the top team in the Azores, C.D. Santa Clara. In August 2009, Pacheco signed with C.D Nacional and made his Portuguese top flight debut on October 5th. With Nacional he competed in the UEFA Europa League competition, playing 15 minutes in a 5-1 victory over FK Austria Wien. In 2010 he returned to Santa Clara, where currently plays professionally. At the International level, he has one cap for Canada after he was selected for the friendlies against Argentina and Venezuela. After staying on the bench in the first game, he started in the 1–1 draw in Merida.
In this interview, Pedro and RedNation discuss his experiences playing in Portugal, his current campaign with Clube Desportivo Santa Clara, playing with the Canadian Men's National Team and the best advice that he has received a a professional soccer player.
RedNation Online: You received your first call-up last year for Canada's matches against Argentina and Venezuela last year and were something of a surprise player that not many people in Canada knew very much about. What were your first thoughts when Stephen Hart and the Canadian Soccer Association approached you?
Pedro Pacheco: My first thought was to earn the trust of Head Coach Stephen Hart. Through my effort, dedication and good performances I want to earn more opportunities to represent the National Team of Canada.
RedNation Online: When you joined the Canadian team for the first time, you arrived at a locker room in which many of the players have played together before at the Canadian U-20, U-20 and Senior levels. How did the other players welcome you into the team and are you starting to feel more comfortable training and playing in the Canadian National team setup?
Pedro Pacheco: In the beginning it was harder, because I had never seen them and had never spoken with my partners (on the pitch). But I need to tell you, I was very well received and I felt cherished. And with more time, I don’t have any doubts that my adaptation will become increasingly better.
RedNation Online: I would expect that you initially came to the Canadian National Team without a lot of knowledge about the history of the Canadian team and the players in the current team. What were your initial thoughts about potential of Canada?
Pedro Pacheco: I came without knowledge about the Canadian team, but I didn’t need much time to understand that I had met a group of very professional players. I’m eager to learn more and, for sure, this group has the potential to achieve all of its objectives. They are both quality people and quality professional footballers.
RedNation Online: You biography states that you were born in Portugal but lived in Canada as a child. How long did you live in Canada for and where did you live?
Pedro Pacheco: I lived in Toronto when I was a baby and remained there for a couple of years. I then returned to the Azores for personal reasons, but whenever I could I visited my family members that still lived in Canada.
RedNation Online: Portugal has produced some of the best players in world football and is a perennial contender at the World Cup. In terms of developing as a young player, what was the environment like in Portugal when you were you were younger?
Pedro Pacheco: I was born in Sao Miguel, which is a Portuguese island in the Azores. There is a difference in the environments between Portugal and Sao Miguel due to the levels of competitiveness that exist at the youth level. We do need to improve the level of training in the Azores so that young players from the Azores will have less difficulty thriving and breaking into the ranks of the senior football clubs and leagues.
RedNation Online: Who were some of your football idols and the players that influenced you as a player?
Pedro Pacheco: When I was younger I enjoyed watching João Pinto, Figo and Paulo Sousa. My idol, who unfortunately stopped playing recently, is Zidane. He is a player who has constantly left me with my mouth open, because he did everything with great quality and elegance.
RedNation Online: Portugal, where you live and play professionally, isn’t technically part of the Mediterranean, but it is in the same general part of Europe as Spain and Greece. How much do you know about the Greece National Team and what do you think Canada will need to do to have a successful result against them?
Pedro Pacheco: I think Greece is a very competitive team with good players at all positions. They are a team that has been crowned European Champions, so we need respect to them. We will need to work hard and be focussed for the entire match.
RedNation Online: Your profile on the Canadian Soccer Association lists you as a defender/midfielder and your Wikipedia page lists you as a defensive midfielder. What positions can you play, which position do you play with Santa Clara and which position do you feel that you excel the most at?
Pedro Pacheco: My position is central midfielder, but I can also play as a defensive, offensive or box to box midfielder. I feel comfortable with all of these positions. With Santa Clara I’m currently playing in a more offensive role.
RedNation Online: How is your current campaign with Clube Desportivo Santa Clara going?
Pedro Pacheco: My campaign did not begin very well because I had to stop playing for two and a half months due to a blow to the bone in my right foot. But I’m recovered now and trying to earn my spot again. The team is currently going through a bit of a rough stretch, but we are going to improve and move up the league table.
RedNation Online: Canada’s draw last year against Venezuela was the first time that Canadian supporters got to see you play. Many observers felt that you did well against Venezuela and displayed a lot of class on the pitch. How would you assess your performance?
Pedro Pacheco: I think that my performance in that game was a positive one and I was able to show some of my good qualities. However, in normal conditions I believe I can be even more useful for the team. I can and want to give more to this team and the country who very well received my parents and family. I feel I have to give back something to Canada, because my family grew up with opportunities given by this country.
RedNation Online: Against Venezuela you dictated much of Canada’s play in the midfield, showed a lot of technical ability on the ball and took many of the free kicks and corner kicks. What has Stephen Hart told you about the role that he would like you to fulfill with the Canadian National Team?
Pedro Pacheco: For that match Stephen Hart and Tony Fonseca just told me to give my best and for me to try to build the attacking game.
RedNation Online: Some have commented that you looked like you were tiring a little bit in the second half of the match against Venezuela. How much did playing at the high altitude in Merida affect you?
Pedro Pacheco: Yes, I felt a little bit tired in the second half, maybe because I’m not accustomed to playing in that high altitude. Anxiety and adrenalin could have played a part as well.
RedNation Online: What’s the best advice you have received as a player?
Pedro Pacheco: The best advice that I have received is that all obstacles offer you an equivalent benefit. You just have to be willing to find out what is.
RedNation Online: As a player you have played your whole club career in Portugal and have competed in the Portuguese first division. Do you think your qualities and style of play with translate well to competing against the CONCACAF nations that Canada will need to defeat to qualify for the World Cup?
Pedro Pacheco: I think that question is better for the coach. However, in my opinion, I have the abilities and have developed in the right conditions to be one more player to help the team to achieve that objective.
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