SAN ANTONIO, Tex — Swift Current’s Nic Bachiu is loving every minute of his chance to play football in Texas.

Bachiu is one of over 170 kids from Swift Current and around Saskatchewan that have packed up and headed to San Antonio, Texas this week for the 2018 Alamo City Pigskin Classic. 

“It’s good to be back with the boys and I’m looking forward to the weekend,” said Bachiu after wrapping up the team’s opening practice, which came in a downpour.

The Selects came together three months ago for evaluations and have been working towards this weekend every since. Bachiu said the biggest thing that they need to work on over the next few days is being mentally prepared to go for their games.

“We know what we can do on the field, we know we’re all great football players, but it’s just in-between the ears and keeping mentally focused and we’ll do good on the weekend if we do that,” he said.

“We need to make sure everything little thing we do is to the top, football is about all the little stuff, so if we can do that, we’ve got a great chance.”

The first game for the Selects will be against a big California team from Monterey Bay, who they will also be hosting a joint practice with on Thursday.

This is Bachiu’s first winter with the Selects program and he said he’s been loving every minute of another chance to play football.

“I really wish I would have joined earlier because this is a great group of kids and I’m having lots of fun,” said Bachiu.

“It’s incredible to be down here and playing football in the States, that alone is a dream come true, so I’m having a lot of fun already, even on the first day.”

The Selects practice on Thursday and Friday, and then they hit the field for games on the weekend in the double knockout tournament.