Bahia follows his soccer dreams to Italy

By Mitch Gallo, August 22nd, 2012

Pierrefond's Sonny Bahia is off to Italy next week to pursue a soccer career after signing a deal with a semi-pro team until May 2013.
“It will be a new adventure living in Italy, there will be no white Christmas for the first time,” said Bahia. “But knowing my goal, I will succeed and enjoy the journey.”
Bahia, 16, is 6-foot-1, weighs 155lbs and was brought up playing for the Pierrefonds Cobras at the AA and AAA levels.
Playing central defender and central midfielder, he made the Nuvla team in Benevento in the Serie D League.
“It was hard to understand and believe it in the beginning, but when I got re-invited with four other players I knew I had made an impact,” said Bahia. “Someone saw the potential that I had so I was very pumped making the team.”
Having been born in the month of September, the Pierrefonds native had a head start on most of his competition, starting to play the game at the age of three. Athletics and soccer run in the family genes, his father Amarjeet Bahia played semi-pro in England and high levels in Quebec.
“My first memory of playing the game is seeing the smiles on my parents faces when I played well and scored,” said Bahia. “I always turn to them for acknowledgment.”
Currently, Bahia trains in Canada just twice a week, but the move to Italy will allow him to train up to five days a week. He comes out of the sports etudes program at John Rennie High School.
Bahia considers his greatest team achievement to be the season of 2009 with the Pierrefonds Cobras. The team was able to win the Season Cup, Playoff Cup, Saputo Quebec Cup and move into the AAA league.
His season will begin in Italy in a few weeks and his goal is to be signed with a Serie A team or Chelsea in the English Premier League. Bahia would like to play soccer for Canada's National Team at some point. He credits much of his success to his father Amarjeet.
“Well the scouts have always been supporting me during the selection process but ultimately, my dad has been my backbone always supported me,” said Bahia.
"He can be very critical but correct in his advice. He has been my coach since the age of three and taught me all his skills and experience and to be a gentlemen on and off the pitch.”