SoccerToronto FC youngster seizes his chance

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Three weeks previously, fittingly, on Canada Day, the host nation began its campaign, high on patriotism and expectation, against Chile. The pre-tournament optimism soon evaporated and the event turned into an embarrassing shambles for the Canadian team.

For an 18-year-old from Orangeville, Ont., with a named people struggled to pronounce, the whole experience was an extremely steep learning curve.

"You should never underestimate your opponent," said Nana Attakora-Gyan at the time.

"That was our biggest problem during the World Cup. We took things lightly in a way and came in almost over confident."

Nana Attakora, now minus the Gyan and minus the overconfidence, is no longer a teenager, but he is turning into one of the brightest young prospects for both club and country. While Toronto FC fans wait with bated breath to discover whether another Canadian will be persuaded to come home for a king's ransom, it's worth remembering Attakora's been around since day one and cost next to nothing.

I'm not sure if they give out awards for Newcomer/Unsung Hero of the Year and, frankly, I'm not bothered if they do. But if they do, there can surely be only one candidate. Unlike this year's crop of MLS rookies who have been cosseted and developed by top American colleges, Attakora has had to learn his craft and learn to be patient in his quest for a professional soccer career.

During his time with Toronto FC, Nana has seen many of his contemporaries come and go and must have wondered on occasion whether his name would be next on the waiver list. He spent the majority of 2008 in the reserve team with only fleeting glimpses at his senior counterparts and when the league scrapped the reserves program and trimmed roster numbers in a cost cutting exercise at the end of last year Attakora might have feared the worst.

He needn't have worried – fate made sure of that. His time with the second string was under the watchful eye of then reserve team coach Chris Cummins. The Englishman knew all about Attakora’s potential and when Cummins was hurriedly installed as John Carver's successor a month into the 2009 season, he had no hesitation in giving the youngster a chance.

The 20-year-old was handed his season's debut by Cummins at DC United in early May and has since become a fixture in the back four. When Marvell Wynne was away with the USA at the Confederations Cup, Attakora filled in at right back, but he's no longer a squad player who can deputize when needed. Nana has forced his way into Cummins' starting eleven at a rapid pace at the expense of Marco Velez, and arguably Adrian Serioux, and has hardly put a foot wrong.

He's quick, strong and brave and appears to have a good reading of the game for one so young. Not only is he defensively solid, Attakora is also keen to support the attack at set pieces and has already collected three assists in just 10 appearances. The fans have clearly taken to him - in June, supporters voted him Toronto FC player of the month.

He must surely have been in Stephen Hart's thoughts when it came to assembling a Canadian roster for the Gold Cup. After all, Attakora has represented his country at every age group from U-15 upwards, so it can only be a matter of time before he wins his first senior cap. With his entire career ahead of him and the next World Cup five years away – at least from a Canadian standpoint – Attakora has all the time in the world to turn himself into a first choice defender for the national team.

It is one of the pleasures of my job to have seen so many soccer careers bud, blossom and run their course and there is every reason to believe Attakora can follow in the footsteps of his predecessors.

He does not waste his words and may never be the most engaging of interviewees, but that doesn't matter. Nana Attakora does his talking on the pitch.

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