TORONTO—Three years ago, it looked as though Mo Babouli’s budding soccer career was over before it even started.
Today, he’s playing alongside international players the calibre of Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Will Johnson for Toronto FC. It’s been an amazing journey for the young Canadian forward who is expected to start his third consecutive Major League Soccer match on Saturday when TFC visits the New York Red Bulls.
In 2013, Babouli was attending Sheridan College in Oakville where he played for the school’s team, while also turning out for the Dixie Soccer Club, based in Mississauga, Ont. He was thinking about a future that didn’t include soccer when his big break came. A game between Dixie and Toronto FC’s Academy side led to him joining the team’s youth system the following year. He followed that up with a stint at TFC 2, the MLS team’s farm club in the third-tier USL, in 2015.
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Babouli, 23, was invited to pre-season camp earlier this year, and was so impressive that he was signed to a contract by TFC just ahead of the start of the 2016 MLS campaign. His journey hasn’t exactly been smooth. Now, he’s making the most of the opportunity in front of him after paying his dues.
“There were bumps along the way. I never expected to be here in the first place. Now that I’m here, I look back and [think] it’s just been a crazy ride,” Babouli said ahead of Saturday’s contest in New York..
Babouli gives a great deal of credit to TFC 2, and coach Jason Bent in particular, in his development as a player, and helping him graduate from the USL ranks to MLS.
“It taught me how to be young, professional athlete, even though I was one of the older ones on the team. Jason Bent was a former player, and [I fed] off the things he would advise me [about] and got me to where I am now,” Babouli said.
Thus far, the Canadian youngster has turned heads in his eight MLS appearances this season, registering four shots on target since making his debut against Sporting Kansas City on March 20 as a substitute. With Jozy Altidore out injured with a hamstring injury, Babouli has deputized for the American forward, starting the last two games for the Reds, and he’s hardly looking out of place doing it.
In only his second MLS start, Babouli was named man of the match for TFC in their 0-0 draw against the Columbus Crew at home last weekend, his runs both with and without the ball, and his creativity causing plenty of problems for the Crew’s defence.
“He’s blossoming before our eyes. He’s showing what I’ve always said about him—when you put a challenge in front of Mo… he figures out a way and works his way through to rise to the level [needed],” coach Greg Vanney said after the game.
Babouli’s best moment came in the second half when he weaved his way through Columbus’ back line and played a sublime, slide-rule ball for Giovinco. Really, Babouli put it on a plate for the Italian, but he pushed his shot wide of the near post. After the game, the reigning league MVP told reporters he owed the Canadian an apology for spurning that glorious scoring chance.
“He doesn’t even have to do that. It’s part of the game. He’s a world-class player and we all have our off days. Any other night he would have two or three [goals]. … He didn’t have to apologize to me,” Babouli told reporters earlier this week.
It’s early days, of course, but Babouli and Giovinco already seem to have developed a bit of chemistry over the past two games. Fears that they’re too much alike in terms of what they offer on the pitch and their respective physical builds have thus far been quashed.
“I feel like me and Seba play a similar style. We’re both very small, so we like get on the ball, get it at our feet. We don’t challenge much in the air, so for us it’s always looking [for the ball on the ground]. For me, that makes it a bit easier,” Babouli offered.
“We’ve sparked a bit in games [together] and hopefully we can continue to do so.”
Thus far, though, Babouli hasn’t found the back of the net, with Vanney believing that both the team and Babouli have to do a better job of getting him in more dangerous scoring positions. Still, TFC’s coach isn’t worried, and maintains every confidence in the Canadian rookie.
“I’d like to find ways that we can get him looks on goal and he can get himself looks on goal,” Vanney said. “That’s gonna come, because he’s a goal scorer.”
NOTES: Benoit Cheyrou is available after being sidelined since early April with a quad strain. Vanney said the French midfielder will feature in Saturday’s game. Cheyrou’s return to the lineup comes at the perfect time with captain Michael Bradley away with the U.S. national team on international duty…. TFC is 7-12-5 all-time against New York. Toronto won the previous meeting, earning a 2-0 decision at Red Bull Arena on March 6 in the season opener for both clubs. They’ll square off for the final time this season on Sept. 18 in Toronto… TFC hosts the Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Canadian Club Championship semifinals next Wednesday at BMO Field. The second leg goes the following week in Montreal… TFC’s next MLS match is June 18 at home vs. LA Galaxy—the league takes a two-week break in early June for the Copa America.
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