Alistair Johnston moved from Montreal when he was only seven years old, but grew up in the Toronto area. This match is therefore very special for him.
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“It’s crazy, I’ve been here six months and we haven’t played Toronto yet. I’m obviously very excited because I’m from Toronto. I saw the rivalry from afar growing up. »
However, he clarified on Tuesday morning that he was never a supporter of Toronto FC.
“It comes from the fact that they have always turned their nose up at me at their academy.
“When I was young, I especially wanted to see games with high scores, entertaining games. »
Rage at heart
Johnston acknowledges that he will play this encounter with a certain rage in his heart.
And this is even more true because the meeting is played at BMO Field, less than 60 kilometers from the family residence in Aurora, in the northern suburbs of Toronto.
“For anyone who grew up in the Toronto area and didn’t have a chance with the TFC academy, it’s big to come home against the team that didn’t give us a chance or who didn’t think we were good enough.
“I think of me, Kamal Miller and Dayne St. Clair, for example. For us, it gives us some gas because we want to make them pay for leaving us behind. »
left behind
Johnston took the opportunity to shoot an arrow at Toronto FC, which has not shone for the quality of its detection in the last fifteen years.
“It happened often, we see it with the national team where we find a lot of players from the Toronto region, but very few who grew up in the Toronto FC academy.
“We all have it on our hearts because it hasn’t been easy for us, but it has helped us in our careers. We had to take different paths, including American universities, as Kamal and I did. »
Among the Toronto-area Ontarians on the men’s team who haven’t played with the TFC academy are Johnston, Miller, St. Clair, Tajon Buchanan, Richie Laryea and Cyle Larin, to name a few. name only these.
We’re going to give the Toronto club a chance and not include Jonathan David, since he’s from Ottawa.
You would think that Jonathan Osorio is a product of the TFC academy, but no. He was invited to train there, but did not make it.