After impressing at an ID camp, talented midfielder Sandhu added to Griffins' 2023 recruiting class
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Sometimes a player will just pop off the page at an ID camp.
That's what happened when Adam Loga saw Abhiroop Sandhu play a year ago. The talented midfielder put on a show for the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer coach and was a no-brainer to bring in as part of the team's recruiting class for the 2023 Canada West season.
"We actually first identified him at an ID camp a year ago," said Loga. "He's very fluid on the ball, clean technically. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but I don't think he realizes the potential he actually has. He's a very talented player, he's very cerebral, reads the game well, understands all phases.
"He's just keen, really committed and wants to make an impact right away, so hopefully he can for us."
A teammate of previously announced Griffins men's soccer recruits Zewdu Mekonnen and Kaleb Lutz on Juventus' provincial indoor championship team – where he scored twice in four matches – Sandhu is set to play semi-pro this summer for Loga's Edmonton Scottish United squad in League One.
The Team Alberta product (at the U13 and U14 levels) most recently played in the FC Edmonton U21 Academy program and has a silver medal to his credit from the prestigious Copa Mazatlán tournament.
That invaluable international experience will be vital as he prepares to enter the U SPORTS ranks.
"I think for a lot of footballers, it's rare to get an opportunity to play outside your city, let alone outside your country," said Loga. "It always just lends so much experience to anyone who gets the opportunity. So, for him to have that and not only get to see a standard outside his native country, but to see many countries represented in a tournament at that level is just only going to open his mind and lend more perspective to his development."
