September 11, 2015 League 1 Ontario--story on Adonijah Reid of ANB Futbol (from League 1 Ontario press release)

  
King City Kingpin
. Fri Sep 11 
Written By: Kelly, Tim  

He may only just have turned 16, but Adonijah Reid's game is all grown up.

The ANB Futbol striker has been the scourge of League1 defenders this season, banging in goals at an incredible rate, 
with 18 recorded in league and cup competition to date.

That's quite a tally for the youngster who only reached his 16th birthday in August.

Reid's goal total put him two goals ahead of Vaughan Azzurri's Joey Cicchillo and Oakville Blue Devils Felipe Vilela 
going into last weekend's games, but Vilela managed to close the gap with a brace against Masters. The stage 
is set for a late season battle between the joint-top scorers in the League1 men's Golden Boot race, taking place 
on Sunday September 13 at Sheridan College, Oakville - 4 p.m. kickoff.

Reid, though a boy among men, is certainly not performing like one, and that's just fine with his manager, 
Bassam Naim.

Naim has been watching Reid's development for the past five years and has seen him get better and better.

"He's very natural and can sniff out goals," said Naim of Reid, who recently was also called up to the Canadian 
under-20 team for an eight-day camp in Toronto.

Reid is part of a 30-man roster, including six forwards, all of whom are born in 1997 or later. Born in 1999, 
Reid is one of the youngest players at the camp. The players are part of a pool assembled by Canadian under-20 
coach Rob Gale, assistants Paul Stalteri, Ante Jazic, Nuno Santos and Tony Fonseca, for the next 
FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2017 in Korea.

If he continues to progress his game as he has been, Reid should be a lock to play for the U-20 Canadian men's 
team in Korea in two years time.

The Brampton native, who has been playing soccer for King City-based ANB for a number of years, has plenty 
of physical talents too, said Naim.

"He can take you on. He has lightning speed over short distances, and can turn a player inside out. He can 
combine and go into spaces," Naim said.

The manager, who has decades of experience watching talented players develop, believes he has a truly 
special one in Reid.

He has taken him over to Europe the last two summers to several top clubs, like Nice and Lyon in France, 
to show off his skills.

Naim believes that, given time to develop, Reid will be able to stick in the tough and competitive world 
of European soccer.

"He has lethal abilities and great talent, but still lacks overall experience. That will come with time," 
he explained.

In addition to France, Reid has tried out in Italy and Spain but the right fit has yet to arrive.

For Naim, Reid has the qualities and ability to one day be a striker at the top level in European football.

"He'll get a contract, at least a youth contract, in the next year. And he'll move up the ladder to the top 
level in football in Europe. He has the right makeup to handle it. He just wants to be somewhere where 
he can score goals."

While he's working out with the very best in his age group from across Canada, Naim said his mates from 
League1's ANB Futbol team will miss his presence and goal-scoring ability. Reid's ability to continuously 
get goals has only been matched by Oakville's Felipe Vilela.

"We will miss him, that's for sure. We are much more lethal with him and we can't wait to have him back," 
concluded Naim.

back to 2015 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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