Yao confident after strong season in CPL
CF Montréal kicked off its 2022 training camp presented by Allstate Assurance a few days ago at Olympic Stadium, bringing together familiar faces and new recruits as the team gets set to prepare its 2022 season.
Among the group, happy to be back in the fold is centre-back Karifa Yao, who spent the previous season on loan with Canadian Premier League Club Cavalry FC, in Calgary. Now, he’s back with the first team and eager to prove himself.
“My expectations are high,” said defender Karifa Yao. “My last season in Calgary went well. I learned a lot. We even played in a three-man defense; the same system Montreal often played in. That helps. I’m here to fight for my position and to show to I’ve learned and evolved a lot.
Yao joined the CPL team in February of last year, knowing a starting position wouldn’t be assured in Calgary. He would end up playing in 26 games, establishing himself as one of the better centre-backs across the league.
He was also named Cavalry Fans’ Player of the Year, presented to him by the Foot Soldiers.
“The coach told me that I had to fight to be in the starting 11 like every other player,” explained Yao. “After playing well in the first few games, the coach became confident in my abilities. After paying a few consecutive games, my confidence rose, and I found my bearings. It becomes easier and the rest of the season progressed smoothly.
Yao wasn’t the only one to be loaned to CPL last year for playing time. CF Montréal also sent Homegrown players Sean Rea, Keesean Ferdinand, and Jonathan Sirois to CPL Clubs for the entirety of the 2021 season, allowing them to gain that vital experience before joining the CF Montréal first team squad again.
For Yao, the time spent gaining experience in a professional setting over a season modified his identity as a player.
“I became, in a certain sense, more intelligent,” added Yao. “I was playing against players with experience. The way I defended changed I couldn’t just count on winning duels physically thanks to my size. It forced me to focus more on my positioning and anticipating passes and long balls. I had to make the least mistakes possible, because when you make mistakes as a centre-back you pay for it. I also improved my ability to move forward with the ball. It was a good season and a good way for to transition into MLS.”
CF Montréal will travel to Florida on January 27 to continue its preseason from there, before travelling to Mexico to face Santos Laguna in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League round of 16 on February 15. You can consult the team’s full preseason match schedule here.
