Davies a coup for Canadian soccer

Wherever his star travels, he carries the maple leaf

In many ways, Alphonso Davies was a win for Canadian soccer before news of an MLS-record transfer to one of the world’s top clubs.

Born to Liberian parents in a Ghanaian refugee camp, the 17-year-old Davies had options when it came to international football. Unlike Calgary-born Owen Hargreaves (England), Toronto-born Jonathan de Guzman (the Netherlands) and Edmonton-raised Asmir Begovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Davies chose to play for 79th-ranked Canada.

Now Davies can carry the maple leaf in the colours of Bayern Munich or another club if the German powerhouse opts to send him out on loan to get playing time once he leaves the Vancouver Whitecaps after the 2018 season.

He is eligible to play for Bayern Munich when the international transfer window reopens in January.

Davies’ skills will serve Canada well on the playing field. But perhaps his biggest boon will be as a Canadian on the world stage.

Davies has the opportunity to join past and present athletes like Donovan Bailey, Andre De Grasse, Brooke Henderson, Ferguson Jenkins, Nancy Greene, Steve Nash, Steve Podborski, Milos Raonic, Denis Shapovalov, Georges StPierre, Jacques Villeneuve and Mike Weir as Canadians who have put or are in the process of putting their stamp on their sport.

“It’s the beginning of a dream that he deserves and he’s fought for,” said former Canadian captain Julian de Guzman, Jonathan’s older brother.

The Canadian Soccer Association did its bit to make Davies the face of Canadian soccer when it chose him to tell his story before the FIFA Congress in June as part of the North American joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

“It was a hard life,” said Davies, detailing his hardscrabble beginnings. “But when I was five years old, a country called Canada welcomed us in. Today, I’m 17 years old and I play for the (Canadian) men’s national team. And I’m a proud Canadian citizen.”

The attacking midfielder can serve as a beacon for Canadian soccer players young and old. He is already a godsend for Canada coach John Herdman, the 10th man in charge of the national team since Davies was born.

The teen’s profile is key for Canadian soccer. Sponsors love a star attraction. Davies is a tonic for a program that has had trouble in the past finding a TV home for its games. Should Davies’ star continue to rise, he will keep soccer on the front pages.

While the teenager’s soccer journey is only beginning, he has already skipped several steps.

Most Canadian players face obstacles just opening the door to Europe. And when they do go, they traditionally climb the soccer ladder slowly.

Davies will face competition wherever he goes before ultimately finding his spot in the sport.

“To be in the Bundesliga, it’s a major challenge, it’s a major test for the young professional,” said de Guzman.

“It’s very demanding. And I can tell you a lot of Canadians who have been there never made it ... If you could overcome the mentality and the culture and be a part of it in Germany, then you could really become a part of any culture in the soccer world. It’s one of the hardest cultures to be a part of at a professional level and it really does take the best — not just on the skill side of things for a player, but more psychologically.

“This will definitely grow the boy to become a more complete professional down the road.”

Rob Friend agreed. He also worked his way up. Originally drafted by the Chicago Fire in 2003, he opted to sign with Moss FK and then Molde FK in Norway. The 6-foot-5 forward spent a year with SC Heerenveen in the Netherlands before embarking on a successful stretch in Germany.

Friend said the Bundesliga is a real testing ground.

“It’s not a matter of ability. It always comes down in Germany to mentality, It’s a tough, tough culture to crack. It’s mentally taxing.”

Friend, however, believes Canadians have the right mentality — “hard working and humble” — to succeed there.

“In terms of Alphonso, it’s not ability. The kid’s got all the talent in the world, everybody sees that. Obviously some of the biggest clubs in the world see that. Approaching it mentally in the right way is really what it’s going to come down to for him.”

Friend says there are no shortcuts and no hiding in Germany. Even training is different with Bundesliga teams spending double the time MLS clubs do on the practice field. On the plus side, Friend says Bundesliga teams are willing to give young talent the time to develop.

“When a German team invests in a player, they truly invest in the long term. And they’re going to be patient with him. But again, at the end of the day, it comes down to the player ... It’s a mental game going over there.”

Canada and the soccer world will be watching Davies.

“I’m excited to see where he goes with it,” Friend said.