World Cup ’22 may have Leamington connection

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Two former Leamington brothers have made a big splash on a big stage in the world of soccer.

Mauro and Stephen Eustaquio, former students at St. Louis Catholic Elementary, left Leamington several years ago, but still have fond memories of their former hometown.

Jessica Antunes of Leamington spoke to the Sun last week about how the brothers miss the area. Her husband Raul is their uncle.

“Stephen hasn’t been back since he left at seven years of age,” she said. “All he wants to do is drive by the Plumbrook apartments where they used to live.”

She said Stephen has good memories of playing in the neighbourhood and playing minor soccer in Leamington.

Stephen is currently a main player in the resurgence of Canada’s national soccer team.

The midfielder just missed a couple of games of the World Cup qualifiers due to being diagnosed with COVID, but has returned to the lineup and helped them to a big victory over the USA on Sunday, January 30.

MAURO EUSTAQUIO

Canada, on an unprecedented run during the qualifiers, is poised to take the World Cup by storm next fall in Qatar.

They’ve won the last five qualifier games and have no losses so far during the tournament. If they continue to play as well as they have, they will qualify for November’s 2022 World Cup.

Stephen Eustaquio is considered one of Canada’s top players. The midfielder played minor soccer here before the family moved back to Portugal when he was seven.

STEPHEN EUSTAQUIO

His older brother, Mauro, was 11 or 12 when the family moved away, so he remembers Leamington a little more vividly.

“I’ve been back a couple of times to visit family and have fond memories,” said Mauro in an interview with the Sun.

Mauro has recently signed on to be the assistant coach with York United in the Canadian Premier League. That follows a stint as the academy manager at Foothills Soccer Club in Calgary.

“I’m happy to return to Ontario,” he said. York United is based in Toronto.

Mauro was an accomplished player in his own right, having played for Canada’s national under-23 and under-20 teams, as well as professionally here and abroad.

Stephen recently signed with FC Porto in Portugal’s top professional league and his presence on Canada’s national team is a boost to his teammates.

Mauro and Stephen Eustaquio when they attended St. Louis School in Leamington. The pair has gone on to play world-class soccer all over the globe.

For their relatives in Leamington — the Antunes family — following the boys’ soccer careers has been exciting and this past September, the family made a trek to Toronto to watch Stephen play for Canada — sporting a sign that said ‘Leamington Proud’.

Next November, when the World Cup takes place, they hope to be glued to their TV sets, along with millions of other Canadians, watching one of their own perform on the world stage.