

Posted by

Armen Bedakian

January 28, 2013



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There will be a few new faces at BMO Field come March 2, as the club prepares for their seventh season in Major League Soccer. Toronto FC recently added some new players to the club roster, in various positions across the field. In a trade with the Portland Timbers, Toronto FC acquired goalkeeper Joe Bendik and a first round draft pick (used to select Kyle Bekker) in exchange for Milos Kocic and Ryan Johnson; the club signed forward Justin Braun from Real Salt Lake in a trade for defender-turned-midfielder Aaron Maund; Toronto also found some luck and won defender Gale Agbossoumonde through Major League Soccer’s lottery process. In Bendik, Braun and Agbossoumonde, Toronto FC has strengthened multiple positions. Each player has the potential to earn a starting role with the team. Braun has been a valuable piece to an MLS team before; in 2009, Braun made his name at Chivas USA, scoring nine goals in one season. He’s bounced around a bit, going to Montreal, before heading to Salt Lake City, and finally landing in Toronto. It’s been a bumpy road for Braun, who’s looking to find some stability and rediscover his 2009 form with Toronto. “Any club you come in to, you want to establish yourself, you wanna go out there and prove to the coaches that you can be the guy that’s going to be able to help the team win, so that’s what I’m coming in here to do,” said Braun. “Obviously last year was a little bit of a disappointment for me, so I’m looking forward to getting back on track and getting to where I know I’m capable of playing.” Braun will be competing with two potent forwards in Danny Koevermans and Eric Hassli, but rather than shying away from the challenge, Braun embrace the battle for a starting role and a chance to learn from experienced forwards. “Any time there’s competition I think it makes every player raise their level,” said Braun. “Obviously those are two guys that have done really well, and they’re guys I can learn from too. They’ve scored some goals and they’ve been around, so I think I’m going to definitely be able to pick up some things playing with them every day.” Having been selected by Montreal back in the 2012 Expansion Draft, Braun now finds himself on the other end of the 401 Derby. The Toronto-Montreal rivalry transcends soccer and has been a staple in the culture of both cities, and Braun is looking forward to participating in the local derby once more. “Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of cool to be on both sides of the rivalry,” said Braun. “Any time you get traded from a team you want to go back to that team and prove they made a mistake in letting you go, so I’m looking forward to that game. While Braun will relish the chance to start fresh, Joe Bendik is ready to fight for a spot against Quillan Roberts and preferred keeper, Stefan Frei.

Bendik, who was signed by Portland back in 2012 from Norwegian outfit Sogndal IL, knows very well how competitive a spot in between the posts can be. Bendik battled for the position in Portland behind two MLS veterans in Troy Perkins and, later, Donovan Ricketts. Now, Bendik sees a chance to earn a starting role at Toronto FC: “Yeah, it’s the same way everywhere you go pretty much,” said Bendik, regarding the goalkeeping depth chart. “Obviously some places, you can see more that you’re not going to start or you are going to start. With [Stephen Frei’s] injury, it’s a spot that’s up for grabs, but most important is that the three of us just get along well and test each others’ levels and really push each other to the highest that we can go, and whoever starts, starts, as long as it’s for the betterment of the team.” Bendik reflects on his reaction to the trade that saw him become a Toronto FC player. “It was just kind of spur of the moment one day, get a call, traded,” said Bendik. “It was a shock, you know, but you bounce back quickly and after being here three days I’m excited to be here now, so there’s definitely some mixed emotions at first but this is an awesome place.” If Bendik can take his experience from Norway and apply it to Toronto FC, then Gale Agbossoumonde will look to do the same with his European experiences. Agbossoumonde spent some time with various clubs across Europe, but has finally settled with Toronto FC. “I’m coming back from Europe and I have a national team cap, so the process for that is you have to go through a lottery and whichever team is interested enters the lottery,” said Agbossoumonde. “Toronto is a perfect fit for me because I get to learn from a coach like Ryan Nelsen who’s right now playing at the highest level and is one of the best centre-halves in the premiership, it’s really exciting to be here.” “Right now, I just came to work hard, win a position and play,” said Agbossoumonde. “Whatever my roles are, whatever the coach gives me, whatever the team needs, I’ll do it to the best of abilities.” In a backline consisting of Danny Califf, Darren O’Dea, Logan Emory and Doneil Henry, Agbossoumonde will have plenty of competition for that coveted starting role, but he’ll be drawing for the lessons he learned from abroad to help him rise to the top of Toronto FC’s defence. “My time in Germany wasn’t as good as I wish it was,” revealed Agbossoumonde. “I was with the first team but just training everyday, and training without playing the games, even though you learn a lot in training, you learn more during the games, and I didn’t really get a chance to play.” “It was a great learning experience for me, so now I’ve been around, I’ve learned all different styles, German style, Portuguese, Swedish: now, hopefully, I can get it all together,” he added. Agbossoumonde also has some kind words for club president Kevin Payne. “We have a great new president,” said Agbossoumonde. “You can see what he’s done with D.C. United, how successful they’ve been, I’m sure this team will turn it around.” Toronto gives Agbossoumonde a chance to find some much-desired playing time; the city gives Bendik an opportunity to break through and become an MLS number one keeper. However, Toronto offers something rather special to Braun: his boyhood NFL franchise, the Buffalo Bills, play at the Rogers Centre once per year, and Braun was visibly excited at the prospect of attending a game. “I am a huge Buffalo Bills fan!” said Braun, a smile on his face. “If I’m here, I would love to [go]. My parents are from there, so I grew up cheering for them. It’s been a disappointing few years but hopefully they can turn it around one of these years.” The Super Bowl is right around the corner. Who will Braun be pulling for?

“I’m gonna go with the Niners!”

