Abubakar remains steady rock for Colorado
COMMERCE CITY » For every soccer player who makes it as a professional, few end up getting the chance to consistently appear for the first team on a week-byweek basis.
Lalas Abubakar, 27, has done just that while embodying everything that has made the Rapids’ back line so special: selflessness, hard work and a quiet confidence that shows up when it matters most.
That hard work on defense flipped the other way last week in the Rocky Mountain Cup against Real Salt Lake, when he scored the game-tying goal and was named to the MLS Team of the Week.
A week later, he’s gearing up to make his 100th regular-season appearance Saturday night at FC Dallas — a testament to his dependability and durability.
“I feel blessed, man, it’s a dream come true,” Abubakar told The Post on Thursday. “Never did I think I could be standing here a few days before I could make my hundredth pro appearance. … I’m hoping I can get to 500. I always tell Drew (Moor), I say ‘Drew, I just hope I can get to 400 games, just like you did.’ “
Abubakar was drafted by Columbus Crew in 2017, but went on loan in 2019 to Colorado due to competition at center back. After the 2019 season, the Rapids paid $400,000 in General Allocation Money to acquire him permanently from the Crew, after it sent an initial $125,000 in Targeted Allocation Money for the year on loan.
That figure alone is a bargain, but considering the leadership he has also brought to the locker room, his value is priceless.
“I think there are certain players who can help drive other players,” Rapids head coach Robin Fraser said. “When guys see the way Lalas (competes), his approach to the game and putting his body on the line on so many different occasions, I think it is inspiring to the rest of the team and it helps drives guys along. To a man, everybody here would probably say they have a ton of respect for Lalas because of how hard plays, and he truly does it because he wants his team and his teammates to do well.”
Unsurprisingly, Abubakar leads the team in blocked attempts with 14 — six blocked shots and eight attempted passes. Per Fbref.com, he also leads the team in clearances (22) and has the highest percentage of aerial duals won (83.3%).
Abubakar, from Kumasi, Ghana, likes doing the dirty work to keep a clean sheet. Consistency is key, and Abubakar has been the gold standard for that.
“Everybody knows their responsibility and it’s our job,” Abubakar said. “We know each other’s qualities and every time we step on the field, you bring it all anyway you can to help the team.”
That will be key if Colorado is to get a result against FC Dallas at 6:30 p.m. at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
“I think our overall defending mentality and willingness to do the dirty work to not allow them to get into the spaces that (Dallas) wants to (is critical),” Fraser said. “When we do that and make it tough for teams to build and maintain attacks, we’re at our best.”