Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
EDMONTON - High-energy runs down the right flank are Jaime Peters' calling card on the football pitch. Dance choreography is just a side gig.
The Canadian under-20 soccer squad often has post-goal dances that can be traced back to Peters' influence. The midfielder pulls the most recent moves off music videos and prods his teammates to join him in short dancing exhibitions after each goal.
He sees it as a team-building exercise and loves to get his teammates to trade in their cleats for dancing shoes - no matter how ugly it gets.
"We just joke around a lot and I always tell them to come do it just for the joke and we try to get everyone to join in," said Peters. "It's good team spirit when you see everyone doing that. We get happy when we score and it's something fun to do, even if it looks silly."
Teammate David Edgar summed up his own dancing simply as "abysmal," but has jumped at opportunities to strut his stuff.
He said he didn't come close to nailing his celebration dance after a goal against Brazil at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium last year and that it didn't matter. After all, he scored a goal on his birthday in a victory over a world soccer power.
Edgar said the only move off-limits at this point is "the robot," so don't expect to see it among the moves making their way from the locker-room to the field anytime soon. He also took a pot shot at the dance troupe's leader.
"Jaime thinks he can dance," he said with a smile. "He's not that good."
But there's no denying Peters' skill on the field and his importance to Canada's chances at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He creates opportunities with his pace and relentless pursuit of the ball, sending a steady flow of crosses into the 18-yard box. The havoc he wreaks often creates chances for teammates, though he can put a good strike on the ball himself.
Peters became a steady starter toward the end of the year with Ipswich Town in England's Football League Championship, a step below the Premiership. He was selected the team's most improved player and also finished third in voting for top player by the team's supporters.
"If these awards were given out for how you play in home games only, Jaime may well have scooped the player of the year award as well, because in front of our fans, Jaime has made a real impact," Ipswich captain and Canadian Jason De Vos recently told a news service for the team.
"Away from home, he has struggled to make his mark on games, and he often fails to deliver the same level of performance. This isn't unusual for someone Jaime's age, and it will take time for him to become consistent. When he does, Jaime can go on and achieve anything he wants in England."
The 20-year-old from Pickering, Ont., said he's working on the consistency and hopes the coming tournament will give him a solid jump-start on the season. Meanwhile, his strong play down the stretch last year recently netted him a three-year contract extension with Ipswich after some legal wrangling to renew his work permit. It's a team he thinks has the ability to make the leap to the Premiership as soon as this year.
Peters has made 40 appearances with Ipswich, and he made his debut with the senior national team at age 17. He was also a member of the last U-20 tournament in the Netherlands.
As for the dancing, consider Canadian coach Dale Mitchell a reluctant supporter.
"I like to see (them) doing it only because it comes after (they) scores a goal," said Mitchell.
"Maybe we'll get to see it a time or two more before the end of the summer."
That's the goal anyways.
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