October 10, 2024...'I wanted to challenge myself': 16-yard-old Shola Jimoh thriving in first pro season with York United (from canpl.ca)
‘I wanted to challenge myself’: 16-year-old Shola Jimoh thriving in first pro season with York United
2024-10-10
by Mitchell Tierney, Digital Content Producer (@mitchelltierney)
When Shola Jimoh was told he would be making his first professional start on Sept. 13 against Valour FC, he rushed to do what
any 16-year-old would: let his parents know.
Only, in his excitement, the teenager accidentally texted the main York United team group chat instead.
“Everyone was giving me stick for it,” said Jimoh in the post-match press conference, a sheepish grin lighting up his face.
That light-hearted ribbing was quickly replaced with cheers, as less than 20 minutes into the match against the Winnipeg club,
Jimoh opened the scoring on a composed flick which beat Jonathan Viscosi in the Valour net. In the York Lions Stadium stands,
his parents jumped to their feet, at first in disbelief that it was their son who had put in the decisive touch, before giddy
celebrations followed.
At just 16 years of age, it was already Jimoh’s second Canadian Premier League goal. He added a third this past weekend against
Atlético Ottawa in a 1-0 victory, the most impressive of the bunch.
As York United look to finish what has already been the most successful season in club history with a statement, the teenager
is fast becoming one of their most exciting players. With ownership’s stated goal to be a club that identifies and gives
opportunities to local talent, Jimoh’s performances in his first professional season are a promising sign of that vision
in practice.
Born in Newcastle in the United Kingdom, but having grown up in Brampton, Ont., Jimoh may be a new face for fans across the
Canadian Premier League. But he has been a familiar one around York United training for a while now.
Last year, after he left Toronto FC’s academy, the club reached out to Jimoh’s agent, and he signed a development contract
in September 2023 to train with the first team. An impressive preseason trip to Mexico with the group this year only furthered
the Nine Stripes’ belief that they had a special talent on their hands.
On June 7, Jimoh signed the first Exceptional Young Talent contract in York United history. The rule allows clubs to sign up
to two domestic players, 18 or under, outside of the club’s 23-player roster.
“I wanted to challenge myself at the highest level possible in Canada, and York was the closest to home,” Jimoh told CanPL.ca.
“So I decided to go with them.”
He made his first start just two days later, coming off the bench in the 87th minute in a 2-2 draw with Vancouver FC.
On July 13, Jimoh made further history by becoming the second youngest goalscorer in CPL history, trailing only Vancouver FC’s
TJ Tahid. The goal, which came in a 2-1 victory over Cavalry FC at ATCO Field, stood as the winner.
“I was kind of expecting it from a couple of days, I was saying to myself that I was going to score that game,” said Jimoh.
“And then when I actually did score, it felt really, really good, because it just came to life.”
Similar intuition that came before his first-ever professional start. In the lead-up to the game, Jimoh told his friends that
he was going to score that night. When he made that first goal in front of the home fans at York Lions Stadium a reality,
it was an incredibly special moment.
“My family’s in the stands, and I brought some of my friends to the game, and when they saw me score, they were like, really,
really happy,” said Jimoh.
More than his impressive goalscoring ability, however, what makes Jimoh so delightful to watch on the pitch is the freedom
and bravery with which he plays. Against players who are significantly older, bigger and more experienced than him Jimoh has
quickly adapted, using his speed, outstanding awareness and electric dribbling ability to make an impact.
“I’ve always been like that, just like always trying to embarrass defenders, just take my marker on always one v. one,” he says
with a grin.
That much has been obvious in his performances, as Jimoh has attempted just over five dribbles per 90 this season. A big part
of that confidence comes from the belief that the York United coaching staff has in him. Jimoh’s first professional minutes
came in Benjamín Mora’s first game as the team’s head coach, and he has been given 375 minutes since even with the club well
above their required domestic U-21 minutes played.
“Benjamín has been really crucial for me in my development since he’s come,” said Jimoh. “He’s given me my opportunity and
he’s just always telling me to stay humble and just keep on working and just try to learn every single day.”
Every chance Mora gets to talk about the young player he makes sure to temper expectations. After all, Jimoh is still taking
his fledgling steps in the professional game, and there is no reason to put any added pressure on a player who right now
is just simply enjoying his football.
“He’s 16 years old,” said the York coach. “He has all his life ahead, all his career. He needs to enjoy. I love what he does
in the pitch… he’s in a stage of growth and evolution and progress.”
Still in high school, Jimoh spends his mornings learning his athletic craft while training at York Lions Stadium, before
flipping open his laptop to complete online classes when his footballing duties are done. He says balancing school and football
can be a challenge, but it is getting easier this year as most of his schoolwork is done remotely. His favourite class remains
Physical Education, which, as it turns out, can still be done via Zoom.
“We just talk about our sports and different discussions around it, “Jimoh explained.
It is an experience shared by a growing number of high school-aged teenagers across the league, such as the aforementioned
Tahid in Vancouver, Khadim Kane at Forge, Cavalry’s Chanan Chanda and Halifax’s Tavio Ciccarelli.
Jimoh especially keeps in touch with Vancouver FC’s Grady McDonnell, who became the league’s youngest-ever signing when he put
pen to paper with the Eagles at just age 15 ahead of the 2024 season. McDonnell played alongside Jimoh for Canada
at the Concacaf U-15 championship in 2023. The VFC midfielder has since gone on to represent Ireland at the youth level,
but Jimoh hopes that someday the pair will reunite in the red and white.
“He was my roommate in the national team, and hopefully we could both play with each other for the national team again
someday,” said Jimoh.
But before he looks too far down the road, of course, Jimoh is focused on what will be a crucial and historic few weeks for
the Nine Stripes. Regardless of what happens over the last two weeks of the CPL regular season, York United will host its
first-ever home playoff match. For a young player who has already made club history, he will get the chance to make even
more should they be able to use that to secure a first-ever playoff victory.
“I’m sure all of my friends are going to be there, all of my family, and it’ll just be really fun and a nice atmosphere,”
says Jimoh, that trademark smile returning to his face.
back to 2024 York United FC menu
.
.