TFC keeper mindful of stadium’s history
MEXICO CITY The players’ entrance into Estadio Azteca is akin to a catacomb. The smell of stale urine and a half-century of sweat are palpable as players wind through the belly of a historic venue where tunnel walls are covered with images of legendary moments and players who have walked the same path.
“You see the murals. You see the pictures and teams and results and all the events they’ve held in this stadium,” Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono said ahead of Tuesday night’s decisive second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Club America. “It’s really a historic venue — one of the most historic in the world.”
It’s impossible to ignore the aura of this stadium. You can’t help but gaze at the sheer size of Club America’s home venue while thinking back to iconic moments that have taken place on the same ground.
Diego Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal happened steps away from where Bono spoke following pre-match training.
How players deal with the aura and buildup to big games here can determine the outcome.
“You try and put it off until the last whistle. You tune it out as best you can. You try not to look up there and become intimidat- ed,” Bono said. “My focus is going to be between the white lines. No matter what the result, you can look around (post-game) and see what’s going on.”
And to think it was just three years ago Bono was toiling — some would say struggling — during a prolonged stay with TFC II.
Since then, Bono’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. His first full season between the pipes resulted in the Reds winning everything there is to win.
“There were a few weeks with TFC II where the results weren’t going well and I wasn’t playing well and I got on a bad pattern,” Bono said. “I lost my professional responsibilities in a way. I said to myself, ‘If it’s going to go on like this, you aren’t going to find yourself further along than you are.’
“That’s when I started getting in the gym, doing extra training, putting in the man hours to make sure I gave myself — physically and mentally — the best chance to take the next step and take more steps after that. I made a real change.”
Bono’s recent form has drawn the attention of a U.S. squad casting its net far and wide to bring in talent following recent failures.
“I really want to be part of that team going forward,” added Bono, who despite earning callups has yet to appear for the U.S. national team. “It’s a disappointment we won’t be in Russia (for the 2018 World Cup), but on the bright side guys like me get a chance togo in and prove their worth before meaningful games start again.”
There isn’t a goalkeeper in the U.S. pool who has featured in more big games than Bono the previous six months. The 23-year-old has performed in numerous playoff fixtures and Cup games. He’s performed in Tigres’ Estadio Universitario and played a big part in TFC’s Champions League run.
Win or lose Tuesday night, Bono looked around and considered returning to Estadio Azteca with a different kit on, to experience the same mystique again.
“Hopefully one day I’ll be part of it at the international level,” Bono said. “That would be the pinnacle for me.
“It’s on me.”