Wanderer Keanu Baccus has faith he can create Olympic memories
From Blacktown to Tokyo. It’s an Olympic journey this rising star of soccer is determined to make.
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Keanu Baccus remembers Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt striking his now famous lighting bolt pose and Neymar’s extraordinary penalty sealing gold for the hosts at the Rio Olympics.
But that’s about the extent of his Olympic memories from four years ago because the Wanderers young gun “was too busy training somewhere’’.
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Now Baccus is hoping to create his own Olympic memories as a member of the Australian soccer team which recently qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
The defensive midfielder for the Olyroos and Wanderers, is a red-hot shot at making the team after helping Australia qualify for Japan with a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in the third place playoff at the AFC Under-23 championships.
“It felt like something so far from reach last year. To qualify was such an amazing feeling,’’ Baccus said.
“I think the sky is the limit.’’
The win will see Australian football end its 12 year absence from the Olympic arena later this year in Tokyo.
Blacktown based Baccus, who came to Australia from South Africa when nine months old, said Tokyo selection would be “a dream’’.
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“To be trueful I never watched it (the Olympics) when I was was young, only after I realised soccer was for under 23s,’’ Baccus said
“To go would be a dream come true.
“I was born in South Africa but I am an Aussie through and through.”
Baccus, whose journey has included stints at Parklea FC, Fairfield Hotspurs, Blacktown Spartans, Marconi, Blacktown City and the Wanderers Academy, believes he was born to play football,
“I just grew the love for the game,’’ said the 21-year-old.
“I have a lot of faith. I believe in God. I believe he put me on the earth to play the game.
“I have faith it is my calling and now my job is a dream come true.’’
The Wanderers play Sydney FC on February 28 in the rescheduled Sydney derby at Jubilee Stadium.
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Originally published as Wanderer Keanu Baccus has faith he can create Olympic memories