There are still several steps if Frank Nzotungwanimana is to crack a provincial soccer team roster - but even being part of the OSA Excel Program, at this stage, is a feather in his cap.

The 15 year-old midfielder with the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) U16 Impact boys was recently the sole Sudbury representative and one of only two athletes from the north (a prospect from Sault Ste Marie was also selected) chosen to attend a tryout camp of "non-OPDL" (Ontario Provincial Development League) players.

The end goal of these particular sessions was to try and show enough to earn a chance to attend the full-fledged tryouts with all the best Ontario talent, including those who compete in the OPDL, the highest level of youth soccer in the province.

"I knew that it was going to be hard," said Nzotungwanimana, who was noticed during the course of the summer with an invitation sent to his parents for the weekend in Vaughan earlier this month.

"I tried to show my dribbling skills and my passing skills as much as I could. I know that's what I excel at. I was happy, but felt I could have done more."

The good news for the local product is that the 44 teenagers who gathered were largely titled towards 2008-born talent, with Nzotungwanimana still one year younger.

Part of being tapped, according to the soft-spoken lad, is based on the progress he has continued to demonstrate in recent years as his team forges forward with games against opponents from Toronto and surrounding areas.

"My touch has improved, my ability to control the ball - and my dribbling as well," said Nzotngwanimana. "I've been training to improve my dribbling and my touch as much as I could because I know those are very important skills in the game."

Arguably even more so in the position of center midfielder, an area of the pitch which is often pivotal to the ability of any team to transition quickly from a defending mode to an attacking one.

"I can see where I can distribute the ball," explained Nzotungwanimana. "I can pass and I can shoot sometimes as well. As a midfielder, you have to be able to play with a one-touch, two-touch, or be able to dribble around a player."

"I just try and stay calm and do my thing."

And if he does it well enough, perhaps he will have a chance to test himself against the elite soccer talent that Ontario has to offer - all in good time.