From a very early age growing up in Cameroon, Joseph Nane always wanted to become a professional footballer. “I was raised in Africa, and in Africa everyone wants to play football,” he says. Nane followed his dream and left his home in Cameroon to study and play soccer in the United States, and the hard work paid off when he was picked 53rd overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC in January this year.
With injuries to midfielders Martin Saric and Amadou Sanyang, Nane has started the last three matches for the Reds, including both legs of the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round against Motagua.
[inline_node:3957]“It has worked out pretty well for me so far,” he says. “I have had some setbacks along the way but for now I am pretty happy. I know I still have a lot to do, especially in my fitness. Sometimes I find myself having to catch my breath and that is something I have got to work on. I am still new in the game and I know sometimes that I have been really inconsistent, but I am working on it. At the pro level you have to be competitive every day and that is the key.”
“I have got to learn more about positioning and also improve my awareness as well as my speed. It is way faster playing with pros than in college so I have to get used to that. The other players have helped me a lot both on and off the field. I really enjoy talking to them and trying to become a better player. Even when I do well, they talk to me about things that I could improve on and it really helps me.”
Nane earned a contract with Toronto after impressing coach Preki and Director of Soccer Mo Johnston in preseason. He linked up with the team in Florida and played in a variety of positions during training camp.
“After being drafted in the fourth round I didn’t know what to expect,” he explains. “My mindset going into preseason with the guys was to make a statement that I am good enough to play in the league. The coaches were talking to me all the time and encouraging me every day so they made it easier for me. I am always a very confident person and I thought I had a pretty good preseason, so I always believed that I could contribute something to the squad and that I would be offered a contract.”
Nane was born in Yaounde, Cameroon and attended the Catholic University of Cameroon before impressing enough in a trial to earn a move to Old Dominion University in the United States.
“Back in Cameroon I was playing at a soccer academy and after getting my high school diploma I joined another Academy when I went to college,” Nane explains. “The coach at Old Dominion University is friends with one of the ex assistants of the Cameroon national team, and he gave me a call and asked if I would do some tryouts. The ODU coach liked me and they offered me a scholarship.”
“When I was a kid I always believed I wanted to study and play soccer. Moving to the United States gave me the opportunity to do that and capitalize on my decision. I look back now and know it was the right decision for me to move to North America. Back in Cameroon I couldn’t spend too much time on soccer because I was mainly focusing on school, so moving to the U.S. helped me become a professional soccer player.”
“I know that success is always about hard work, and if you work hard enough you will get your chance. I am really pleased to be part of this team. There is a good vibe in the locker room and everyone gets on really well both on the pitch and away from the pitch.”
To read the full interview with Joseph Nane, pick up a copy of the Matchday Programme at Saturday’s game against Chivas USA.
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