Local player a rising star in CPL

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This article was published 05/07/2019 (2601 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is not uncommon for talented teenagers to perform in starring roles on soccer pitches around the world.

So, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that fans of the fledgling Canadian Premier League are starting to notice a cast of Canadian youngsters emerging as potential stars.

One of Valour FC’s homegrown prospects, attacker Tyler Attardo, is a prime example.

The 17-year-old from East St. Paul started three games and made a total of six appearances during the 10-game spring season, scoring in his first start and adding another goal in Valour’s last match to pull into the club’s scoring lead.

Attardo, who missed his graduation ceremony at River East Collegiate last month while attending an away match in Halifax, is the league’s second youngest player (Saudi-born Pacific FC midfielder Ahmed Alghamdi was born 10 days later).

The CPL currently has six players born in 2001, including Attardo and Alghamdi.

Winnipeg’s young phenom, who doesn’t turn 18 until Sept. 10, is quick to say he won’t get caught up in the excitement of his early success.

“It’s definitely important to not let it get in your head or let it hit you too quick,” Attardo said following Valour’s Friday afternoon workout at Murray Field in St. Vital. “Yeah, I scored a goal, but if I’m living in that moment too long and thinking I’m going to score all these goals, it’s not going to come again. You’ve got to collect, refocus and continue to work hard.”

The club’s best player, midfielder Michael Petrasso, has been duly impressed with his young teammate after not having a clue who he was at training camp in May.

“I think right now he’s in good form and he’s at the right age,” Petrasso said. “He’s 17 years old. He’s Canadian. He’s playing in this league and, at that age, scoring two goals, especially on a team where we’re struggling at the moment, he’s gonna be a bright spot. I think he’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s tall.

“He’s got all the attributes to push on to another level. I think he’s still in a learning phase, he’s just so young. The more experience he gets, his positioning will get better… In training and pre-season he was OK, but’s he’s grown as a player, and the more confidence he gets the more he produces.”

The CPL’s mandate to develop homegrown talent has an obvious application here.

Petrasso took a different route. He was 16 when he left his home in Toronto to sign his first professional deal with QPR in England.

“I was very quiet and shy,” Petrasso said. “I think when I moved over to England, I didn’t get along with a lot of people and I wanted to come home after 3½ months. My mom and dad were the ones who forced me to stay and, in two years time, it kinda worked out and I signed another three-year deal.”

Attardo had two lengthy stints in Italy with Chievo Verona’s residencey program between 2016 and 2018 and he believes it was the apprenticeship he needed to prepare himself for the pro ranks.

“I think at first, when I went to Italy, it was hard being away from home, but once you get in that environment and you’re constantly playing, it’s unbelievable,” Attardo said. “It’s one huge reason why it’s awesome to be playing professionally in Winnipeg. This is my home.”

Valour assistant coach Damian Rocke has been pleased with Attardo’s moxy, maturity and willingness to learn.

“He’s coming out of youth programming in Manitoba, which has been fine for him, and the first while was just adjusting and learning how to do your job on a daily basis.” Rocke said. “He’s gotten into that rhythm and understanding, growing in confidence in the room and field, and it’s still going to take time. He’s 17… It’s been good for him to get the minutes and get the experience, but it’s still early — and that’s a positive for the club, positive for him, because there’s still obviously room to improve and grow.”

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Petrasso added that Attardo has the drive and skill set to take his game to a higher level.

“In training, you watch him do finishing drills and he’s always on target,” he said.

“When someone sees a 17-year-old all over the papers, things start to move for him. If things keep going the way they’re going, I know he’s got a passport and I’m sure there’s a lot of scouts looking out for him.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14