Another week, and another look at what is going on with Toronto FC. What I won’t do is reiterate what I already wrote last week about TFC’s horrid success rate. What I want to consider is the importance, or lack thereof, of defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0, thereby winning the Canadian Championship and the Voyageurs Cup that goes along with it. The victory is a culmination of the four team tournament featuring Toronto FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Montreal Impact, and Edmonton FC.
Winning the Voyageurs Cup for a fourth year in a row is at least “something”. For a team with a history of losing, there have been relatively few bright spots on the pitch. Why would we, as fans, not want to rejoice in that? Why would the team not want to celebrate that feat? At a time where winning the MLS title is just a pipedream, and, heck, even making it to the postseason seems an uphill battle, we need to celebrate the small things and make them part of our culture.
Success breeds success, and a look at any historically successful team, no matter the sport, will prove just that. Players, especially young players, need to learn what it means to be a professional, and a part of that is experiencing what it’s like to win. A coach can preach all he or she wants about it, but until the players embrace and experience if for themselves, it’s just not the same.
I was absolutely floored when I read about the comments from Danny Koevermans on Twitter. Let me dig up some nice quotes about the state of his team:
“(TFC) is the worst team in the world.”in the world.”
“Name me one team in the whole world that’s 0-9… There’s not one team in the world that’s lost 9 x in a row.”
His teammates didn’t all agree, and some retorted on Twitter as well. Goalkeeper Milos Kocic responded, “”That’s Danny’s opinion. I have a different opinion… You have to talk and communicate and make it better.”
How self-destructive can you get? This is exactly what I am trying to say – success breeds success. Teams develop an identity, and unfortunately for TFC fans, the team’s is very negative right now. When even the star players, the veterans that a teams looks to tutor it’s younger players, are acting in a negative way, what chance is there for success?
So, the Canadian Championships MUST be considered a great feat by the fans, the team, and its players. If not, expect losing… much more losing.
At least the fans have gotten involved in the fun, chanting “Best in Canada, Worst in the World” as the game came to a close.
…and that is the last word.
