Development, development, development. It’s what Head Coach Jason Bent and the club has been preaching since the introduction of Toronto FC II.
The team’s first season in the USL had a few ups and many downs, with the high level of competition and professional environment in the league being a new experience for most of the players on the squad.
While results might tell a different story – The team finished with a record of 6-17-5, second last in the USL – Head Coach Jason Bent believes the season was a success in terms of developing players for the future.
“A stat came out that we were the youngest team in the entire league. I think that bodes well for the future,” he said to media following the end of the team’s USL season.
“It’s part of our club philosophy that we want to give the young players a chance and I’m not just talking 10-15 minute appearances here and there but full starts, full games. That’s been a huge plus for us.”
“In terms of results we’ve not gotten the results we’ve wanted. Obviously we would like to win as many games as possible but from our perspective it’s about development and getting the players to progress in their careers,” he later added.
Focusing on the development of young players was clear as Bent and his staff called up 22 players from the Kia Toronto FC Academy to play for TFC II this season.
Gabriel Boakye, Liam Fraser, Malik Johnson, and Marcus Godinho became regulars for the club in the middle of the season due to international call-ups and injuries.
Reshon Phillip only played in three matches but had an immediate impact in his first start for TFC II, scoring a brace against rivals FC Montreal on home turf.
These are just a few examples of the opportunities given to young players under Bent to help aid in their progression as professionals.
The introduction of Toronto FC II has helped bridge the gap between the Kia TFC Academy and the first team. Many players made appearances in friendlies with the first team and also with Canada Soccer during this season.
Jay Chapman, Manu Aparicio, Jordan Hamilton, Chris Mannella, and Alex Bono played for Toronto FC in a friendly against English Premier League team Manchester City FC in May.
Adam Bouchard, Mo Babouli, and Luca Uccello joined Chapman, Aparicio, Hamilton, Mannella, and Bono in Toronto FC’s friendly against EPL club Sunderland AFC in July.
Canada Soccer named Babouli, Aparicio, Mannella, Bouchard, and Raheem Edwards to their U-23 side to participate in the 2015 Pan Am Games, while Quillan Roberts was named to Canada’s National team for the Gold Cup.
Most recently Chapman, Mannella, Babouli, Roberts, Skylar Thomas, and Mark-Anthony Kaye were named to Canada’s U-23 team for the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers.
“I always keep preaching it’s a process. You look at the amount of players that got called up to play against Manchester City and then even more got to play against Sunderland with the first team,” said Bent.
“The thing that was pleasing for me was that they understood how the first team wanted to play. My job essentially is to move as many players forward to the first team as possible.”
