As the Canadian men’s team looks towards 2012, hindsight has now shown that playing the extra round of World Cup qualifying matches ultimately ended up being beneficial.
Not only did it force the squad to play more matches and allowed the team to gel through regular games and training sessions, it also provided a number of the relative newcomers to the Canadian setup to play in fixtures that really mattered and gave them an opportunity to show coach Stephen Hart what they can bring to the team.
While a number of players impressed during Canada’s matches against St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts over the past few months, one player who really stood out on a number of levels was forward Tosaint Ricketts, who was named man of the match in Canada’s final game of 2011.
The Edmonton native earned his first nine caps with Canada this year and, whether he started or came off the bench, he looked very much like a player who will make a positive impact every time he steps onto the pitch. Blessed with blazing pace and possessing the type of character and work ethic that is allowing him to make the most of his athletic gifts, Ricketts looked more comfortable and more dangerous as an attacker with every training camp and match that he took part in.
And, in that sense, the experience he gained in Canada’s opening round of the World Cup qualifiers should benefit him greatly when he plays against Honduras, Panama and Cuba in the next round in 2012. As for Ricketts himself, he admits that those first qualifying matches that he played in were vital in allowing him to not only show what he is capable of as a player, but also in terms of integrating himself into the national team.
“First of all, being a part of any Canadian men’s national team is a privilege and a great honour no matter what the situation is, but being selected for the first round games for the 2014 World Cup qualifying was huge for me as a player. I’m still in the process of creating a name for myself at the club and national team levels, so to be a part of it really gave me the opportunity to show my qualities as a player,” said Ricketts.
“And, of course, it has also been excellent preparation just for the fact that we’ve all been together so much. The players and staff have really become comfortable with each other and it’s really starting to feel like a family. That feeling benefits the team in many ways, especially on the field. I think the squad is looking really good and I’m excited for the new challenges in the next round.”
With some veteran players unavailable due to injury in the opening round, a door was opened for several newcomers to the squad to state their cases for a bigger role as the World Cup qualifying campaign progresses. Hart was even candid in stating that the team’s final 2011 match against St. Kitts was an opportunity for players to perform in such a manner that he would have no choice but to bring them back and play them again in future fixtures.
Ricketts took that message to heart, given that he delivered a standout performance in that final game against St. Kitts. He is also confident enough to admit that he believes he has acquitted himself quite well when has been given the opportunity to play for Canada.
“Personally, I think I’ve done pretty well," Ricketts stated. "At every camp I have come in thinking that I have to prove that I belong there. And that mentality and work ethic has gotten me capped nine times this year, with three goals scored.”
And while Ricketts has impressed with his goal scoring ability and the numerous chances he has created via his pace and tireless work on the pitch, he is also quick to state, that as a relative latecomer to the game of soccer, he still feels like he is a ways off from realizing his full potential.
Growing up in a hockey town
Ricketts grew up in Edmonton, a city where hockey was king, and he was born years before the launch of Toronto FC, so it took many years for him to find the sport that would become his passion. As a talented athlete who was one of the top short distance runners in Alberta, the teenaged Ricketts never in his wildest dreams imagined that he would one day play professional soccer in Europe.
However, once he started playing the game at the youth level, he quickly discovered that he had enough talent to possibly earn himself a scholarship and a university education. And once he passed that hurdle and excelled at the collegiate level, he knew that he had the talent and the passion to pursue a career as professional player in Europe, where he has continued an immersive soccer education over the last three years.
“I’ve been improving in lots of aspects in my game – technically, soccer sense, and just overall experience," Ricketts explained. "Being a late starter as a player, I’m still very eager to learn more and improve, because I feel I’m not even close to my full potential. It is nice to see that the work is paying off, but really it only makes me more focused to keep improving.”
Following two years playing for Finnish club MyPa, Ricketts made the move to Romania just over a year ago in order to move up to a higher level of competition and to continue his development as a player. And according to the fleet footed forward, the change was a beneficial one that played an important role in him achieving his goal of playing for the national team.
“Playing with my club in Romania has benefited me greatly. Poli Timi?oara’s style is very technical, with short passing and lots of movement and finding space, which fits well with what I personally want to work on to improve my game. I have improved a lot since being here and I feel it was a great choice to make the move from MyPa to Poli," Ricketts said.
The first thing that most people usually notice about Ricketts is that he is fast – really fast. And with his addition to the national team side, Canada is looking like a team that has the potential to run other teams off the pitch.
An attack that at times this fall featured Ricketts, Simeon Jackson and Josh Simpson all using their speed to create chances was one of the more impressive attributes that Canada has shown in recent matches. And with Canadian soccer fans now salivating at the prospect of possibly adding Jonathan de Guzman and Junior Hoilett to that mix, Ricketts believes that team speed is an asset that Canada will have to exploit in their upcoming matches.
“Speed is hard to contain if it’s used correctly. I feel like we can really use this team strength to our advantage, not only in attack, but also defensively as well in term of pressuring opposition defenders," Ricketts opined.
One of the most exciting things about Ricketts is the fact that while he is undoubtedly quick, the six-feet-tall striker is also physically strong and hard to knock off the ball. That attribute is something that has always been mindful of since his days training and competing in the NCAA Division I.
“When I was playing at the University of Green Bay, one of the main focuses was on developing physical strength, so I think that has just kind of stuck with me over the years," Ricketts explained.
Long list of attributes
In addition to pace and strength, the man of the match performance that the striker delivered in November also highlighted his versatility, as he was very comfortable playing wide right in the Canadian attack. With the right side being an area where Canada does not currently have a lot of depth, national team supporters will be pleased to learn that Ricketts does play that position at the club level.
“Actually I do play there sometimes with Poli and I played wide right a little in Finland as well," Rickets said. "I don’t think it can ever be a bad thing when you are comfortable in more than one position. So I really don’t really mind switching between top striker and right wing.”
As he looks towards next year and a more difficult set of World Cup qualifying opponents, Ricketts is quietly confident in both his own ability to be a difference maker and in Canada’s potential to qualify for the World Cup.
In addition to the challenge of competition, his passion to wear his national team kit is also something that drives him and spurs him forward.
When talent, desire and character collide, the result is often a very special player. We’ve seen some excellent performances from Tosaint Ricketts over the past ten months, but it’s probably safe to predict that his best performances for Canada are actually still yet to come.
“Confidence-wise, as an individual I’m feeling pretty good right now. I’m coming off a good stretch of games for club and country and I have been getting on the score sheet consistently, which feels good," Ricketts stated.
"As a team, I have to think that everyone is feeling good as well. Obviously, there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are on a decent run and haven’t lost since the Gold Cup, and have had a bunch of clean sheets as well. Things are looking good thus far and I’m not only grateful to be a part of it, but also very proud every time I step on the field to represent Canada.”
Steve Bottjer is a Toronto-based writer, podcaster and editor for RedNation Online, on online magazine covering all aspects of Canadian soccer. Follow RedNation Online on Twitter.