GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The pain is still raw, the shock not yet subsided in the aftermath of the awful events that unfolded in Toronto on Monday.
Canada’s largest city drew the focus of the international media when a 25-year-old man behind the wheel of a van was accused of jumping a curb and plowing through pedestrians on Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard avenues. In total, 10 people were killed and 15 others were injured. On Tuesday, Alek Minassian was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
Some 4,000 kilometres away, members of Toronto FC, preparing for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final, watched news reports and read about what happened in disbelief. The horrific incident also dominated the discussion during the team’s lunch and dinner later in the day.
Sports is secondary at time like this. It is with heavy hearts that TFC will take to the pitch at Estadio Akron against Chivas Guadalajara on Wednesday night. A win won’t bring back the lives lost. All the Reds can do is represent Toronto in a way that is befitting of the city’s reputation.
“Following what was going on back in Toronto [on Monday] was heartbreaking. … Toronto is an incredible city: multi-cultural, vibrant, one of the best cities in the world. To see, and read, and hear, and watch what was going, it wasn’t easy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, to their families, to their friends. We’re going to step onto the field [Wednesday] night and play in a way that everybody back home in Toronto is proud of,” TFC midfielder Michael Bradley offered.
TFC coach Greg Vanney echoed his captain’s sentiments, calling what happened “a mindless act,” while going to great lengths to remind people of Toronto’s many virtues.
“In all my years of playing this game and coaching, I’ve been to many, many, many cities around the world. Toronto is one of the greatest cities I’ve ever been. [One of the] safest, and people are tolerant … and the police are amazing. It’s a wonderful city, and to see something like that go down in Toronto was shocking for all of us, but it shows that there are mindless people everywhere and things can happen,” Vanney stated.
“We look forward to going out and representing the city in a way to try to bring joy back in whatever way we can.”
Being in Mexico and unable to provide immediate comfort to the city was especially tough for defender Drew Moor. A native of Dallas, Moor has been overwhelmed with how Toronto has welcomed him as though he was a family member since signing with TFC prior to the 2016 MLS season.
“We all struggled to have to watch that and being so far away. All we can do is hope that we can go and give everything we’ve got [Wednesday] night and bring a little bit of peace to the people that are really struggling with it right now,” Moor said.
Goalkeeper Alex Bono called it a “dark time” for the city.
“It’s devastating. I wish we could be there to give support to the city … We’re playing with heavy hearts. We have Toronto in our minds and in our hearts all the time, even more so now,” Bono said.
“We’re doing this for the city. We’re doing this when the city needs something bright, and we want to be that bright spot.
If there is a silver lining in all of this, it might be the professionalism with which Toronto police and other agencies dealt with the situation. Bradley was especially impressed with the policeman who apprehended Minassian, and he hopes the team can draw inspiration from it.
“I couldn’t have been more proud seeing the way first responders, emergency medical teams, and police, the way they responded to such a terrible situation,” Bradley said.
“The actual video of the policeman arresting the suspect was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The bravery to act in a way that he did, it made me proud to call Toronto home. When we get our chance [on Wednesday], we’re going to see if we can do something special, make it a night that everybody watching back home can be proud of.”
TFC lost 2-1 at home last week in the first leg of the two-game, aggregate series versus Chivas Guadalajara. The Reds can become the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night.
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