Edmonton Academy Graduates Continue To Step Up For First Team

FC Edmonton had to go to its bench against the San Antonio Scorpions and, in doing so, had to turn to youth.

The result was a 4-0 win for the Eddies to kick off the Fall Season with academy graduates shining on the day.

Hanson Boakai tallied his first NASL league goal, while Sadi Jalali scored from the spot in the convincing victory over San Antonio..

Lance Laing, who scored two goals of his own and was named Player of the Week, praised his young teammates.

"Hanson Boakai and Sadi Jalali were big for us, and both of them scoring shows the depth of our squad,” he said. “It's also a testament to the growth of the FC Edmonton Youth Academy, so I think loads of credit should go to our coaching staff."

Laing, who took the Eddies second penalty of the match had faith in Jalali to step up to for the first spot kick in the match, which he converted.

“I was pushing Lance the day before about penalties, and said we’re probably going to get a PK,” Jalali told NASL.com. “He said, ‘OK, I’ll let you take it,’ as I usually take them in training games. I just stepped up and took it.”

While forwards always want to add their name to the scoresheet, each one for Jalali may be a bit more special with his Edmonton roots.

“It means a lot because I’m from Edmonton, and you always want to play in your home city,” the young forward said. “Every time I put on the jersey, I’m proud I can rep my home city and play for the first team.”

His academy teammate, Boakai, scored later in the match and Jalali was not only happy for him, but also predicted it would come to fruition.

“I told him the night before, because Hanson’s my roommate and good friend after growing up in the academy with me, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to score tomorrow,’” Jalali said. “I was happy he scored and we went to celebrate together.”

While both of the young attacking talents will be recognized for their performance and goals, head coach Colin Miller actually believed it was another Edmonton Academy player that had an even better match.

“The performance for me on the day was Allan Zebie,” he said. “I thought he played very, very well against Billy Forbes, who is arguably one of the best wide midfield players in the league.”

Another academy player and Allan's brother, Bruno, was also on the bench for the match, as the Eddies seemingly have an assembly line of talent ready to be called upon..

“That’s the key, that they are having success,” Miller said. “Success doesn’t necessarily mean they are scoring goals, success means they don’t look out of place, and they are contributing in a mature performance.”

Jalali put a lot of the credit for his development as a player, as well as that of other players breaking into the Eddies first team, on assistant coach Jeff Paulus, who is the director of the academy.

“It’s because Jeff Paulus has put so much time into our academy, and he’s built such a good relationship with the players – he’s a player’s coach,” Jalali said. “All the players when you have a good coach, they want to work hard and work for the coach, and now we’re getting rewarded coming to the first team.”

Boakai, Zebie, and Jalali could all be set for breakout years as the Fall Season progresses, and as their maturation process continues.

“I think I’m at a good age – I just turned 20 a month ago – so I think I’m at a good age to start getting minutes,” Jalali said. “I’m starting to develop more, and I think I can push on more, if not for a starting spot, but come off the bench every game,” noting that “I just need to work – work harder than who is in that spot – and take the opportunity when I get that chance.”

After the Eddies showcased their depth this past Sunday, Edmonton can only get stronger when more players return to the squad with full fitness and Lance Laing returns from the Gold Cup, where he is playing with the Jamaican national team. And it’s a squad that is ready to fight for a berth in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason.

“I think we have the tools to compete to get into the top four in the league and in the playoffs at the end of the season, but we won’t be able to if we defend as a team as we did in the Spring Season,” Miller said.

With a clean sheet against the Scorpions, and the young players coming into their own, it could be the beginning of a successful finish to 2015.

“San Antonio is a very good side, there’s no question they have some very talented players on their team,” Miller said. “We dodged a couple of bullets, but that’s normal for every game, but I thought for the most part we limited them, and our attitude towards closing the ball down and defending was fantastic on Sunday.”