BRADENTON, Fla. – When Toronto FC takes the field on Saturday night in its first MLS Cup Final, one of the players who could help the club to success in the future will be watching from about 1,500 miles south of BMO Field.

A member of the U.S. U17 Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., 16-year-old Ayo Akinola is definitely eager to see his senior teammates raise the cup for the first time.

“We’ve really worked hard for this,” he said on Friday night following the U17 side’s 3-0 victory against the IMG Academy U17/18 team as part of a 2016 Super Y League North American Finals Showcase. “I’m going to watch the game tomorrow, so I really hope my team does win, but there’s a lot of progression in what we’re doing, and I hope it continues.”

Akinola’s progression in 2016 has made him one to watch within the U.S. Youth National Team program and within the USL. Born in Detroit before his family moved to Brampton, Ont. prior to his first birthday, Akinola capped a fine year last week with four goals as the U.S. went a perfect 3-0-0 in the 2016 Nike Friendlies.