Is O’Brian White the next big thing for Canadian soccer?

February 4th, 2010 | by: Mike | Comments Off

2 Goals for TFC last year in 9 appearances

Born in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in 1985, White spent his youth dreaming of a move to the US to play Major League Soccer one day. Upon settling with his mother in Scarborough, Ontario in 2002, White made a huge impact at Pearson Collegiate being named MVP in 2004 and 2005.

Upon graduating, White played his college soccer in Connecticut for the Huskies where he performed at an exceptional level where he scored 46 goals over four years. White went on to win the Hermann Trophy, the MVP of NCAA Division I Soccer, as well as the Soccer America Player of the Year Award. Most likely for scoring goals like this:

The 24 year old White was then selected by Toronto FC in the MLS Draft, going fourth overall. Torn ligaments in his knee sidelined White for most of the season, and finished the year with 2 goals in 9 games. Standing at 6′1 and 175lbs, White uses his size to dominate defenders, and is not only great in the air, but has a clinical right-foot finish.

This has all caught the eye of Stephen Hart, who claims he has spoken to White more than once, to join his Canadian squad. “I have spoken to him,” says Hart, “I wouldn’t say that I have pressured him. I’ve let him know of my interest.” Despite being foreign born, Hart says he has no problem in recruiting these players, as long as they are willing to have an effect to the Canadian cause. “Yeah, I mean, why not?”, “If they show me that they can help what I’m trying to do, I will do everything to convince them that, you know, I have something to offer them and they have something to offer us and we are open to them to come and play.”

White has said he was spoken to last year, and was trying to be persuaded to join Canada before the Gold Cup, but at the time his heart was with his native Jamaican side. However, with the recent lack of interest from the Jamaican side, White has admitted he is tempted to represent the country where he has built his reputation. However, Hart is still waiting on a “Yes” before he plans for the future.

“I said ‘look, you know, I saw the game and I think you have a lot to offer’,” Hart goes on to say, “And he said, ‘Well, would you have the job?’ And I said, ‘Well, I don’t know if I will have the job’. And after I did get the job, I called him and said ‘Well, I got the job’. So, we had a little laugh about it and, as I said, he’ll make that decision when it comes around.”

“I think he was very polite in his answers and he never came and said ‘I will definitely do this, I will definitely do that’. He was very respectful, very polite and we left it a very informal sort of discussion. I didn’t want to make it feel like I was all over him, or pressuring him to make that decision. As I said, I think players are gonna make those decisions when they feel comfortable with it.”

White will be ready for the 2010 MLS season for Toronto FC, and if he is playing the soccer that is expected from him, White may be a surprise call up in Canada’s friendly against Argentina in May. And he may be playing alongside his teammate Ali Gerba, so seeing what kind of chemistry they build together will be important. We already have one future star in Simeon Jackson, lets hope O’Brian White can join that list and form an impressive partnership in the future, and help us make a strong push for 2014.