The World Cup is really just beginning for two North Burnaby soccer players.

Goalkeeper Luciano Trasolini and striker Devon Jones are both soon to be heading off to South Africa, the scene of the recent FIFA World Cup won by Spain, as the Canadian representatives at the Danone Nations Cup World Final in Johannesburg from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

The pair earned the experience as members of the under-12 Canada West team that defeated an Eastern Canada select side 2-1 in a shootout at Lamport Stadium in Toronto earlier this month.

The West came back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the score through a goal by Easton Ongaro of Edmonton off a corner kick by David Norman of Coquitlam late in the game.

In the shootout, Luciano made two key stops, while the West Coast side scored on both of their penalty shot opportunities to win the Canadian final for the first time ever.

"We were really excited. We scored and the other team was crying. We were shouting, 'South Africa, South Africa' and then doing our song, 'Ole, ole, ole, ole,'" said Luciano.

The two friends will leave on Sept. 26 for Montreal, where the team will spend four days training before taking off for Africa.

The trip has all the buildup and glamour to make any 12-year-old's imagination run wild - buses to the stadium, security and all those fans. It is a small wonder that the two could easily make believe they were professional soccer players.

"And we play in the real stadiums, but we don't play a full field," Devon said.

Devon and Luciano have been pals since preschool.

They both attended Lochdale Elementary until Devon transferred to Capitol Hill to take French immersion.

Just recently, they found themselves on the same Whitecaps youth travelling team.

They will also both suit up with the Burnaby Selects under-14 Metro team this fall.

Although close, the two boys took different paths towards embracing the beautiful game.

"Luciano was really good at soccer, but I wasn't," said Devon.

But Luciano dropped out of the game, only to return to it by the fourth grade.

He decided then to become a goalkeeper because he said, he was not that fast a runner. Now he's hooked.

"When I watch goalies and see how good they are, it inspired me to be good like them," Luciano said.

"My cousin could have been a professional, and he turned it down. I don't want to be like him. He chose a girl."

Devon had to work at his game.

"I was into other sports, but when I saw people do things, I would ask them how to do it. I started going to camps and learned better ball control and stuff," Devon added.

The boys were handpicked from among 7,500 young soccer players who took part in 10 soccer camps and four provincial Danone Nations Cup selection camps across the country.

Now it's upwards and onwards for the two aspiring national teamers.

Qualifying teams from approximately 40 other countries, including defending two-time 2008 champion France, and five new nations Haiti, Mozambique, U.S.A., Libya and New Zealand, will descend on South Africa next month for the 11th annual Danone Nations Cup.

Last year's Danone Nations Cup was postponed because of the H1N1 flu pandemic.

The official draw will take place on Sept. 30, with two days of qualifying matches to follow.

The world final will be played on Oct. 3 in the 40,000 seat Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Along with France, South Africa, Russia, Spain, Argentina and Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, are all previous winners of the Danone Nations Cup. Canada has never won the final.

tberridge@royalcityrecord.com