|
|
To Dwayne De Rosario, and to Jordan Hamilton: welcome home!
There was plenty of news coming out of Toronto FC on Thursday, with a pair of player acquisitions giving journalists and TFC staff alike a chance to gather at BMO Field on this cold, January day. The big news of the day came from the signing of Toronto-native Dwayne De Rosario, who returns to his former club after being selected third overall in the MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Yet, buried underneath that story is the exciting news of Jordan Hamilton’s graduation from the Toronto FC Academy to the senior roster. The 17-year-old forward joins the club right before an expected flurry of roster activity. RedNation Online spoke with Hamilton – and De Rosario – about his signing, the state of young footballers in Canada, and developing the game in Toronto.
For Hamilton, whispers of graduation came courtesy of a visit by Tim Bezbatchenko.
"The first thing Tim did when he came to the Academy, Tim Bezbatchenko, he took time out of his day to meet with my whole family and a deal was spoken about and thought about,” said Hamilton. “It was nothing official, but it speaks volumes, you know, with a busy job like that, to take time to speak to an academy player's family. It really made me feel good and comfortable about the signing."
Hamilton is visibly excited, but also nervous. He attended the De Rosario unveiling press conference, in suit and tie, looking the part of a professional footballer. Bezbatchenko and Nelsen both congratulated Hamilton on his signing, a sentiment echoed by numerous people in the room. When we asked him how he was feeling, Hamilton answered with poise.
"I’m very excited," said Hamilton. "I've been four years in the Academy now, it's just a great feeling. When you're in the academy, it's all you want, a shot at the first team and when it comes, you take it!"
He is the ninth Toronto FC Academy graduate, and, at 17, one of the youngest forwards in Toronto FC’s history. His is a career that has seen him play with the academy for a long time. He joins fellow graduates Ashtone Morgan, Doneil Henry, Quillan Roberts and Jonathan Osorio in the first team, teammates who, Hamilton says, will help him get started.
"It’s not just playing [with former graduates], but learning from them because they've already gone through it," said Hamilton. "I'm just beginning and I have the utmost respect for guys like Ashtone, Doneil and Osorio. I've known Bekker for a while, so I'll be looking up to those guys and learn every day."
As De Rosario takes the stage, Hamilton sits nearby, squished between Benito Floro, the head coach of the Canadian national team, and RedNation’s Steve Bottjer. Here sits two very different generations of Canadian footballers, De Rosario, of the old guard, Hamilton representing the new. Playing together for club and country is dream enough for this young TFC product.
"What more can I ask for?" said Hamilton, when asked about playing with De Rosario. "I get to practice alongside one of the greatest strikers of all time in MLS! I'm just going to try to absorb everything that he teaches me and hopefully one day I'll be like the player he is!"
His goal for the season? Playing a game for the senior roster.
"I want to learn from all the experienced players, try to break into the starting 11 or A-team, just do my best," said Hamilton. "I'm an attacker, out and out, I score goals, that's my job. I can play anywhere along the front and I'm just going to work my hardest for the team."
De Rosario's return was, at once, symbolic and strategic. He is a player with MLS experience but also an icon at the club. He sports the number 14 with pride once more, bringing to a close his days away from his hometown. Hamilton hasn't selected a number yet. He wore the number nine shirt with the academy but the club's new Brazilian forward Gilberto has that locked up.
"Whatever I get, I'll be happy with!" said Hamilton. "The number is just on the back of the jersey, you've got to play for the crest on the front."
De Rosario’s story is the first of many stories coming out of Toronto FC in January. For the iconic Canadian international, another Toronto FC Academy graduate at the roster is cause for celebration.
"[Hamilton’s signing} is huge! I've heard a lot about Jordan. He's obviously from the same community that I'm from so I'm even more happy for him, that we're starting to get more kids coming out of Scarborough, coming out of those areas,” said De Rosario. “That's where a lot of the talent is. Not just only Scarborough, but the Jane and Finches, the Bramptons, the Rexdales, there's a lot, a lot of talent waiting to be noticed and appreciated."
"In saying that, to see the future and to work with the future of Canada is great, and I'm looking forward to it,” De Rosario continued. “At the same time, a lot of them know, Kyle Bekker and those guys, they know I'm a winner and I'm competitive so they better be ready because I'm coming in, crackin' the whip!"
De Rosario will play the role of master to these young Torontonian apprentices, Hamilton among them. De Rosario believes keeping these young players in Canada is paramount to the success of the country.
"If we want to be taken seriously in terms of the national team level, it's important that we start raising our own, developing our own and taking care of our own,” said De Rosario. “I’m sick of seeing Canadians going across seas to get recognized and then being appreciated at home. I think it’s time we step up as Canadians and make our own people feel at home and stay at home and reward them for their achievements.”
During his time in New York and D.C. United, De Rosario had the chance to play against Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan, scoring a few goals at his hometown team’s expense. Having played against this defensive duo, De Rosario is impressed with their play.
“Those two in particular have improved tremendously since I first started with them,” said De Rosario, of Henry and Morgan. “Doneil’s come into his own self and so has Ashtone, who had a bit more of a difficult year then Doneil but that’s a part of the game. My thing is to keep those guys encouraged and focused and motivated and keep learning. You haven’t reached anything, because when you think you’re there, you’re not really there.”
While the aforementioned duo earned plenty of minutes, Kyle Bekker did not. Toronto’s third overall draft pick played in only a handful of games and struggled to crack the first team. De Rosario’s 14-year career in MLS has given him the experience of being a captain, a full-season starter and, at some point, a bench option.
“I spoke to Bekker about his situation with not playing and told him to stay focused, motivated and work hard,” said De Rosario. “One thing about him is that he wants to learn, and when you have a kid who wants to learn, that makes your job much easier.”
Finally, we asked De Rosario about Jonathan Osorio, a player who drew many comparisons for his goal scoring ability from midfield. Osorio and De Rosario may share similar-sounding names, and the latter believes the former to be a big player for Canadian soccer.
“He’s the next big thing,” said De Rosario, of Osorio, but he quickly turned to Hamilton nearby and continued: “Jordan’s the next big thing, too, and we have a lot of next big things coming up so I’m looking forward to working with those guys.”
In a team marred by inconsistency, it seems that one constant has prevailed: an appreciation for the Canadian footballer. De Rosario and his students, side by side at BMO Field once more – a treat for fans and footballers alike.
|