By Stephen Weir
Trinidad and Tobago delivered a surprising one two punch to Main League Soccer, when two native gamers, Tyrese Spicer and Wayne Frederick had been named the highest two gamers chosen on this week’s Tremendous Draft.
It was a sporting earthquake that despatched shockwaves via Toronto, Port of Spain and the world of Main League Soccer (MLS), the Toronto FC introduced Trinidad and Tobago’s ahead Tyrese Spicer because the Quantity One total choose within the extremely anticipated 2024 MLS Tremendous Draft. Spicer, a 23-year-old native of Trinidad and Tobago, emerged as a standout expertise after a powerful 2023 season at Lipscomb College, the place he notched 14 targets and three assists in simply 16 video games.
Spicer’s stellar efficiency within the 2023 season earned him accolades reminiscent of First Staff All-American, Atlantic Solar Convention (ASUN) Participant of the Yr, and MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist honors. With a complete of 29 targets and 18 assists in 57 appearances for Lipscomb, Spicer’s goal-scoring prowess and on-field contributions didn’t go unnoticed.
Toronto FC, below the brand new management of normal supervisor Jason Hernandez and head coach John Herdman, made Spicer their first acquisition for the 2024 season. The crew is set to bounce again from a disappointing end within the earlier season, which led to the mid-season departure of former coach Bob Bradley. The Reds, who scored solely 26 targets within the final marketing campaign, are pinning their hopes on Spicer to inject dynamism and firepower into their attacking lineup.
Hernandez, commenting on the collection of Spicer, acknowledged, “Tyrese possesses a novel mixture of technical and bodily qualities that align with our participant profile and tactical blueprint. He additionally has a resilient mindset and a drive to enhance, which makes him a fantastic match for TFC. We stay up for working with Tyrese to speed up his progress as a participant and individual whereas serving to us obtain our targets as a membership.”
The announcement of Spicer’s choice reverberated within the media throughout the globe, significantly in america. Spicer himself, in a televised interview, expressed his pleasure, saying, “I rating targets, I’m explosive; I feel John Herdman noticed that in me.”
Again in Trinidad and Tobago, the native press celebrated Spicer’s achievement, significantly noting his background as the previous prime goal-scorer within the Secondary Colleges Soccer League (SSFL). It was additionally reported that that Spicer’s fellow countryman, Wayne Frederick, was chosen as the primary choose by the Colorado Rapids.
Frederick, a midfielder from Duke College and son of Trinidad and Tobago’s Wayne Frederick, expressed his disbelief on the alternative, saying, “It shines a lightweight on Trinidad and Tobago.”
As Tyrese Spicer and Wayne Frederick embark on their MLS journeys, the highlight just isn’t solely on their particular person successes but additionally on the potential for Trinidad and Tobago to make an enduring affect on the worldwide soccer stage. The 2024 MLS season guarantees pleasure and anticipation as these proficient gamers convey their abilities and willpower to North American soccer.
