South Florida 2nd Grader Chosen As World Cup Player Escort
NORTH MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – Big day for one lucky South Florida boy who learned Tuesday that he'd been selected as one of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Player Escorts.
Ronnie Saiegh, an 8-year-old soccer enthusiast,was speechless Tuesday afternoon when he first heard the news.
"I'm a little bit nervous," said Ronnie.
Ronnie is one of 25 young soccer fans across the nation selected to attend the 2014 FIFA World Cup and walk hand-in-hand with a U.S. Men's National Soccer Team player onto the field before a match.
"It's amazing I think it's a great opportunity I think he can not understand what is going on," said Vanesa Bundyk, Ronnie's mother. "He's completely shocked."
Ronnie, along with his father, will travel to Brazil this summer to experience and explore the sights and sounds of Rio de Janeiro.
"I'm excited," Ronnie said.
Ronnie is one of 25 kids from around the world to win the trip courtesy of the McDonald's Global Player Escort program.
Ronnie, however, didn't enter himself to be selected, his older sister, Yamila Saiegh, secretly entered him in the contest months ago.
"I'm the mastermind I made all this happen," Yamila said. "He's a really big soccer fan. We're Argentinian so we root for Argentina, have seen every world cup since he's been born. It's crazy and I'm really jealous that I don't get to go."
Ronnie said he hopes to meet his hero, Argentina player Lionel Messi.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," Ronnie said. He also said that he plans on taking selfies with as many players as possible to help remember the moment forever.
The McDonald's Global Player Escort program gives more than 1,400 kids worldwide a unique way to support their soccer heroes as part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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