On this week’s edition of We Are TFC II, we sit down with goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo.
What has been your favourite moment in your soccer career thus far?
Cavalluzzo: Signing my first pro contract.
At what moment did you know you could go pro?
Cavalluzzo: When I made my professional debut in the USL in the summer of 2016.
You took a unique path to get to the pros, can you explain that process?
Cavalluzzo: It has been a crazy year and a half. I was coaching with the Academy during my last year of school (at McMaster). Once I had finished school I ran into John Conway in the hallway and he invited me into train with the USL team. So, I came in and started training everyday.
A few months and a couple injuries later I found myself getting into a couple of matches and I did well. When I was offered a contract for this season and I wasn’t going to say no to that. It has been my dream, I think it’s any Academy’s players dream, to sign a professional contract.
Do you have a coach/mentor that has impacted your soccer career?
Cavalluzzo: Paolo Ceccarelli. Taught me the most about goalkeeping in my teens when I was with the TFC Academy.
Can you speak to your time at McMaster University?
Cavalluzzo: I was there for 5 years. I have a lot of great friends there. The soccer was great, four of my five seasons went well, made it to nationals. I’ve got three provincial gold medals and a national silver so it was a pretty successful university career and I loved my time there.
Why did you choose to go to McMaster?
Cavalluzzo: I kind of wanted to stay home, but I knew the coach from when I was a lot younger. I worked with him in my early teens as a ‘keeper coach. I knew what he wanted to build and I knew the recruits that were going in. I figured we were going to have a good team, I guess it turned out to be a pretty good decision.
Chemical Engineering major? Was that always what you wanted to get into?
Cavalluzzo: No not really. I was good at math and science in high school and I wasn’t sure what else I wanted to do. I knew I didn’t want to do more than five years of school so I said if I can do engineering I can get a good job right after graduating.
How’d you balance Engineering and soccer?
Cavalluzzo: Definitely wasn’t one of my favourite things. It was a good experience to gain but it was a lot of hard work. In the end, it was well worth it.
A player you like to model your game after?
Cavalluzzo: David De Gea. He is a great shot stopper and has brilliant distribution with his feet.
Taking a quick look at your phone, which photo in it means the most to you?
Cavalluzzo: Any picture with my family.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Cavalluzzo: Reading novels, sometimes some video games.
What book are you reading right now?
Cavalluzzo: I’m currently reading a trilogy. It’s called the Red Rising Trilogy. I’m on the second of the three. Its’ a bit of science fiction.
Do you have an all-time favourite?
Cavalluzzo: The Name of the Wind. I’ve re-read it a few times. It’s well written and I was hooked.
Do you have a favourite movie?
Cavalluzzo: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Music Artist?
Cavalluzzzo: Coldplay
How have you found the adjustment from the Academy to the pros?
Cavalluzzo: I’ve found it to be a fairly smooth transition.
How did the Academy help in your development as a professional?
Cavalluzzo: Being in this professional environment with great coaches really helps you with the transition. Everything I do as a pro is similar to how things were done in the Academy.
Why did you want to come back and coach with the Academy?
Cavalluzzo: I came in in early 2015. [John Conway] and [Luciano Lombardi] asked if I’d be interested. Of course, I agreed. I love the work. It’s so rewarding when you give back to the club after they helped me out so much when I was a younger goalkeeper.
