Everybody that talks to Nana Attakora these days seems solely preoccupied with asking him about where he is going to play his club soccer next season, while the player himself is fully focused on a different area of his career. According to the 22 year Toronto native, he is completely concentrated on getting back to full physical and match fitness and he’s grateful for the opportunity that the current Canadian National Team call up has afforded him in that regard.
“It feels good to be back with the Canadian National Team. It feels really good to be around so many experienced players, like Dwayne with fifty something caps. It's just good to be around guys that can help me get back to where I should be. So I'm excited,” said Attakora at BMO Field on Sunday, where the Canadian Men’s National Team was training ahead of their match against St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday.
When asked if his has been able to achieve the goals he set for himself heading into the Canadian training camp, Attakora was quick to admit that the past week has been a positive one for him as a young player working to establish himself in the Canadian National Team.
“My main goal coming in here was to do well and learn from the experienced players like Julian de Guzman. I think I have done what I needed to do. I have done well in practice and I have proven to the coaches that although it wasn't my greatest season, when I'm mentally right, I can play well.”
With a little more prodding on his club options for next season, Attakora replied in the fashion of someone who has endured a difficult recently completed campaign, but also with the confidence of a player who is fully confident in his talent and abilities.
“Everybody knows that my contract was finished at the end of the season. To be quite honest, there are quite a lot of options, both in Europe and at the MLS level. But at this point, that's not my focus at all. My focus is to get back to playing well and playing regularly and staying healthy. That's my main focus. I have been hurt quite a few times this year and I'm not even going to let that stuff affect me, because earlier in the season when I was thinking about that stuff, it took a toll in terms of my performances and where my head was at. So I don't want think about that. I just want to play and there is nowhere else I would rather be right now than with the National Team. So that's the last thing on my mind.”
Asked if Canadian National Team Head Coach Stephen Hart has offered any advice as to the possible next step in his club career, Attakora admitted that Hart has reinforced the concept that the talented defender should be focusing mainly on his development and play on the pitch.
“Stephen has just told me that as a young player I shouldn't focus too much on the contract stuff because that is what agents are for. He's just told me to focus on my playing and development and everything will fall into order. That's something I really need to do in terms of listening to these older players and coaches, because it hurts when you focus on where you are going to be in 3-4 months time and it can really take a toll on you. Like I said, I'm trying not to think about that stuff. My agents are dealing with that stuff, so I'm just focused on playing.”
With 2011 having been a year in which the gifted central defender endured one injury after another, the former TFC centre back is pleased to report that he has finally put a rash of injuries that were interconnected behind him.
“It's funny, because after we spoke the last time when San Jose played Toronto, I got fit and then I did my hamstring in a game. And that put me out for another three weeks. I actually just got back to full fitness two weeks ago. It's been tough with injuries for me this year.”
While last season certainly marked an abysmal year for the two time Canadian U-20 Player of the Year when it came to the rash of injuries he suffered, he is quick to credit all of the coaches who supported him through trying times, including both the Head Coach he finished out 2011 with, Frank Yallop, and a couple of other coaches that might come as a little bit of a surprise to TFC fans.
“I love Frank. For me, with the off the field stuff and just sitting down and him talking to me about what I needed to work on, he was great. And to be fair, the whole San Jose Coaching staff was great. And one thing that people don't realize is that it was the same with the Toronto FC coaches. Aron and Bob were great with me. I know a lot of people think that Aron and I fell out of favour and stuff, but it was nothing like that at all. Aron and I kept in contact when I was in San Jose. Every coach that I have had this year has been great with me and has helped me to get back - whether it was mentally or coming back from injuries - they have all been great.”
While Attakora was unable to play due to injury in his official return to BMO Field with the San Jose Earthquakes, Tuesday’s International match against St. Kitts and Nevis could possibly see him take to his home pitch for the first time since he was traded by Toronto to San Jose.
“It just feels good to be back home in Toronto, where it all started for me. You could say that the troubles all started here, but it's good to be back. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.”
And it becomes immediately clear from only a few minutes speaking with Attakora that he will always view his time with Toronto FC in a positive manner and that he still holds dear his hometown club.
“I have said it before and I will say it again, if I was in MLS I only wanted to play in Toronto. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way, but I still support TFC and want them to win every game. I would love for them to defeat Los Angeles in the Champions League. Yeah, TFC will always hold a special place in my heart.”
With his return to the Canadian National Team, Attakora has also had the chance to again play and train with a player who was an important mentor and support system for him during his time with Toronto FC, Dwayne De Rosario.
“With Dwayne and I at TFC, he was like a father figure for me at the club. So when he got traded, it hurt a lot and I wasn't myself for a few weeks. As you can see, Dwayne has done everything there is to do in this league. He's probably had a tougher year than I have and he has gone on to win the Golden Boot and will probably win the MVP as well. So just being around a player like that, he knows how to deal with every type of situation and he's helped me again and he continues to help me.”
As he and his teammates started to get ready to depart BMO Field via the team bus, I ended my conversation with Attakora by asking him if De Rosario was his choice for 2011 MLS Most Valuable Player.
“Yeah, definitely. There is no doubt about it. He's done everything there is to do, especially with the year he had going from Toronto to New York and then New York to D.C. and then he still put up numbers. So, yeah, Dwayne is the MVP.”
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