The Canadian men’s national team will be given a welcome boost to its offensive ranks ahead of an upcoming CONCACAF Nations League qualifying match against Dominica (BMO Field in Toronto, Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m. ET), as former Montreal Impact and current Barcelona B star Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla has committed to Les Rouges over Ivory Coast.
The highly-touted winger announced his decision to play for Canada in a video posted by Canada Soccer, where the 19-year-old recounts his experiences moving from Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Quebec, and his early days playing soccer in the province.
Ballou Tabla joins Canada on the #RoadTo2022.
✅
Be there every step of the way. Secure your seats now via: https://t.co/1srx7FUFNO
⚽️: Toronto ?? CAN
⏰: Tuesday 16 October 7pm
??: https://t.co/TgOeh1eVsF
#️⃣: ???? #CANMNT #CNL #TheDreamStartsNow pic.twitter.com/6zidQBV2FV— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) September 25, 2018
“I’m very happy to be a part of the national team,” Tabla said in a video posted by Canada Soccer. “I’m proud and I can’t wait to see my teammates.”
He added: “I came in Canada at eight years old, and my family lives in Canada, my brothers, my dad. When we were in Africa, it was different. Sometimes, when I wanted to play football, I can’t, because sometimes they don’t have a light on the field. When I came to Canada, it was different – I have teammates, we have all the same t-shirts, we have soccer balls, lights, everything, so Canada brought me a lot of things.”
Tabla has featured for Canada from the Under-15 to the Under-20 level, and was named Canada’s U-20 player of the year in 2016.
He joined the Blaugrana’s B-team in the January transfer window on an initial three-year deal, having impressed during his time with the Impact since joining his hometown club in 2012. He and the rest of John Herdman’s team now host Dominica in the second CONCACAF Nations League qualifying match, having dispatched the U.S. Virgin Islands 8-0 away from home in the opening match of the competition.
Of course, with ever-burgeoning options in Herdman’s attacking ranks, Tabla isn’t guaranteed a starting role, a challenge he more than embraces.
“They’re already there, and (there will be a) fight for the country,” Tabla offered. “For sure I came here and I’m hungry. I want to play. I will give my best to show the coach that I need to play, you need to play me. I will train hard to try to (earn) my place.”
Canada plays Dominica in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying on Tuesday, October 16 (7:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT) at BMO Field in Toronto.
