The Canada U23 team’s preparations are well underway for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, with the side set to face the United States in its opening group game on Thursday night at Sporting Park in Kansas City. Twelve members of the squad played in the USL this season, with a few having just completed their first professional seasons for the league’s three Canadian sides.
One of those is Toronto FC II forward Molham Babouli, who led the team with four goals and four assists in 20 appearances. After gaining some experience with the U-23 national team this summer when he was part of Canada’s squad at the Pan-Am Games, Babouli is looking forward to the upcoming tournament.
“It’s definitely a great experience when you play against guys from other countries,” Babouli told CanadaSoccerTV. “The Pan-Ams was a good stage to see where we’re lacking and where we’re doing well. For me, it was the first time, so obviously it was a new experience, but it was good for the most part. It’s always a learning stage when you come to the national team, so we just build on that from there.”
Eight teams qualified for the two-week event, with Canada also set to face Panama on Oct. 3, and Cuba on Oct. 5 as it looks for a place in the semifinals. The two sides that advance to the tournament’s final will earn a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with the winner of the third-place game set to face Colombia in a playoff for a spot in the event.
One of the major focuses for Canada’s Coach Benito Floro during training camp has been building tactical structure, which he hopes will pay dividends on the field.
“It is true that when a player is a young player his mind is open to receiving learning,” Floro said. “We consider that they are moving ahead in tactical matters, especially impressing on combined attack. We trust these practices are going to offer us a good result.”
For Babouli - who is joined on the team by TFC II teammates Skylar Thomas, Quillan Roberts, Chris Manella and Jay Chapman - keeping things simple will be a key to success as Canada looks to reach the Olympic Games for the first time since 1984.
“It’s a lot, but if you’re focused enough, you’ll learn to make it simple, and I guess that’s what they’re trying to teach us,” Babouli said. “If you focus on what they’re trying to teach us, you can learn to make it simple for yourself, and that way you won’t be confused with anything.”
