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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Young midfielder Malik Henry makes his mark in return to Toronto FC
TORONTO – While just turned 23, midfielder Malik Henry has paid his dues with Toronto FC. Attending the Toronto academy as a teenager, Henry used to carpool daily with winger Theo Corbeanu from their homes in Hamilton. 'It was definitely a long drive sometimes, but there were a lot of good memories from those times,' Henry recalled. After attending university in the U.S. and being drafted by CF Montreal, he returned to TFC earlier this year. He joined TFC 2 in March and was rewarded with a first-team contract last Saturday. 'A complete full-circle moment for me,' Henry said with a smile. Henry, who had seen 23 minutes of action in two prior appearances with the first team as a TFC 2 player this season, wasted little time making his mark. After replacing Corbeanu in the 76th minute Saturday at the Philadelphia Union, he delivered the cross that Deandre Kerr headed home for a 1-1 draw. 'I was more excited, I'd say, than nervous,' Henry said of his debut as a member of the first team. 'I was giving myself positive self-talk. I was just buzzing once I heard my name get called (during the game).' Toronto (5-13-7) hosts the Columbus Crew (12-5-8) on Saturday. With nine games remaining, four of which are at home, 12th-place Toronto is 14 points below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. Columbus, which stands fifth in the East, went unbeaten in recent Leagues Cup play (2-0-1) but missed out on the quarterfinals on goal difference. Toronto coach Robin Fraser was not surprised by Henry's impact off the bench against Philadelphia. 'This is something we've seen Malik do kind of all year for the second team,' he said after the game. 'Real credit to the second team, the second-team staff, how they've put him into this position. They've really groomed him to take care of the ball and provide service out of really good situations.' 'I'm just glad he that when he got the opportunity, he had the composure to do it here,' he added. 'He put a great ball in.' Henry originally joined the Toronto youth ranks after catching the eye of academy head Anthony Capotosto while trying out for Ontario at the TFC training ground. Henry eventually left the Toronto academy to play soccer at the University of North Carolina before transferring to the University of Akron, where he made the All-Big East second team as a senior. He appeared in just three games for the Tar Heels in the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season but found a home in Akron, 'And then from there it just clicked for me,' said Henry. 'The coaches all took me in, and the players all welcomed me a lot, and then they just allowed me to be me on the football field. And especially off the field I feel like I grew the most.' At Akron, he played both wingback and winger, starting 68 of 71 appearances in four seasons with two goals and 21 assists. These days, he's happy to play anywhere on the wing, from back to front. Henry was drafted in the second round (39th overall) by Montreal in December 2023. He wasn't expecting it at the time, given he didn't even know he was eligible, and was surprised to see himself included in mock drafts. Henry returned to Akron for one final season, finishing his degree before attending camp with Montreal in January 2025. He spent time in camp with the team in Orlando before being told it did not have roster space for its draft choices. But when one door closes, another opens. 'Then TFC came calling soon after that. Within a week or two, I was training with TFC 2,' he said. He put his head down and worked his way up the ranks. 'I never lost belief in myself,' he said. 'I just kept pushing. Self-belief can take you a long way, I think.' Other academy mates now with the Toronto first team include Kobe Franklin, Kosi Thompson, Adisa De Rosario, Markus Cimermancic, Lazar Stefanovic and Kerr. 'It's nice to be back around them,' said Henry. He now lives close to the training ground, so he no longer has to commute from Hamilton. He usually heads home after games, however, to visit with his family. Internationally, Henry has represented Canada at the U-15 level, making three appearances and scoring a goal at the 2017 CONCACAF U-15 Championship. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Away from the pitch, Henry relaxes in front of a video game console — often playing with Columbus forward Jacen Russell-Rowe, a former TFC academy teammate. He also likes to create beats and produce music, working with local artists (ProdbyLeak is his YouTube channel). 'It's kind of like assisting in soccer,' he explained. 'I build a little foundation for them to express themselves.' — This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug.14, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
04-06-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jamaican teenage forward Jahmarie Nolan looks to turn heads in Toronto
TORONTO – Teenage forward Jahmarie Nolan opened his Toronto FC II scoring account on May 9, finding a seam in the Chattanooga FC defence and leaving 'keeper Eldin Jakupović rooted to the spot with a well-placed low shot in the corner of the goal. With the Toronto reserve side still trailing 2-1 after the 88th-minute goal, there was no time for celebration. Nolan just grabbed the ball out of the goal and raced back to centre field to start the game again. The 15-year-old Jamaican youth international has been on the move for a while now. Nolan was just 14 when he made his debut in the Jamaica Premier League for Mount Pleasant FA on Oct. 7, 2024, and scored his first goal against Vere United on Jan. 30. Nolan, who was nine or 10 when he joined Mount Pleasant, scored one goal and added two assists in 11 appearances during the 2024-2025 season. He signed with TFC 2 on March 24, becoming the youngest player in club history to sign an MLS Next Pro contract. Nolan made his debut April 25, coming off the bench in the 61st minute against Chicago Fire II. The advice from TFC 2 coach Gianni Cimini was simple. 'He said to just enjoy and play free,' Nolan recalled. 'I was a little bit nervous because I hadn't played overseas in a while, but when I got the first touch on the ball, everything just disappeared. I started to play freely.' Nolan has one goal in six appearances, including three starts, to date. 'The footballing here is quite different than back in Jamaica,' the soft-spoken teen said in his lilting island accent. 'In Jamaica, it's more physical. Here it's more technique. A higher standard here, definitely.' Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser, who was also born in Jamaica, welcomed the five-foot-10, 160-pounder and his family to the club. 'It was nice to have a young man come straight from the island,' said Fraser, who acknowledged having some initial concerns about such a young signing from overseas. 'This is a whole different level of professionalism, I would think, than he's used to … But he seems to be settling in really really well.' 'Certainly at his age and his build, he's somebody that is really interesting to us,' he added. Nolan has enjoyed his time with the club so far, even if unseasonably cool weather has been a shock to the system. He has family here, in the form of his mother, brother, two uncles and assorted cousins. Plus, he lives in an apartment complex that houses several of his TFC 2 teammates. Nolan has represented Jamaica at multiple youth levels, scoring three goals in CONCACAF U-17 qualifying play in February in Guatemala. 'From there, my agent told me TFC was interested,' he said. 'And I was like, 'Why not come and get the experience here?'' Toronto was happy to get him. 'We definitely see a high ceiling for him,' said Toronto technical director Sean Rubio. 'We've been pretty open that we see him slotting in amongst our highest level of prospects, so to speak.' A former midfielder, Nolan has moved up front with Jamaica and Toronto, often in the role of a false No. 9 — a role he likes since it gives him the freedom to find space in the defence. Growing up, he liked watching Manchester City star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski. But he is his own man. 'I have a good scoring mentality. I like to go forward,' he said when asked what kind of player he is. 'I'm very passionate about (football)' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. When not training or playing, Nolan continues his studies online. The Grade 10 student says school and soccer have kept him busy, and he has yet to explore the city around him. Nolan has his eye on another move in the future. '(Toronto) is just the first step for me,' he said. 'I want to be in Europe (in) the next two years. I'm trying to modify my game day by day, score goals, get assists, and just try to get to the big stage.' — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025
