Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Griffins men's soccer head coach Adam Loga envisions his latest recruit as part of a fearsome trifecta of forwards he'll be able to put out on the field next season.
On Monday, he announced that winger Rakan (Ricky) Yassin out of FC Edmonton Academy is joining the squad and will wear Griffins silks for the 2019 Canada West season.
There's a strong possibility that Yassin will immediately factor into a front three that also includes Canada West All-Rookie team member and program goal-scoring record holder Everett Orgnero, and feisty, pacey winger Kapri (Marcus) Simmons.
"We're just super blessed to have him," said Loga. "He'll make an impact right away. I could see him in our front three right out opening day.
"He's pacey, he loves to attack, he likes to take guys on one-v-one," he added. "The biggest thing is his character and his work rate is bar none. He wants to be a professional footballer and he carries that with him every day at training. He brings a certain intensity and professionalism to the session."
Yassin, who grew up in the Edmonton Victoria and Juventus programs – winning a provincial title with the latter in 2013 – describes himself as a player who embraces a high-level work-rate.
"I try as best as I can to get in front of the net and be clinical in front of the net," he said. "I just like running a lot, to be honest. Just work rate and running onto through balls is what I enjoy."
The quick winger already fits seamlessly into the Griffins locker-room as if he's always been there, given his familiarity with several players on the current roster.
"He comes in knowing a lot of the players, which makes it an easier transition for him," said Loga. "He went to high school with a lot of the players and he's still with FC in the U20s, so he's played with the likes of Sheldon (Prasad), Marcus, Enzo (Squicciarini-Moneny) and Stefan (Gajic).
"He comes in right away and there's a lot of familiar faces in the room for him. They all grew up playing together at that professional academy. He'll be a key piece with his fellow FC lad Marcus and Everett (Orgnero). It will be a fierce front three."
Yassin, who went on trial to a soccer club in Jordan in his youth, has ambitions to one day turn pro. He sees the Canada West level as an important step in his development.
"It's definitely a new experience playing university soccer coming from high school," said Yassin, who also went to high school with a few current Griffins at Archbishop O'Leary. "It's something different. It was something I wanted to take on as the next step.
"Playing youth soccer is one thing, playing men's soccer is another thing, but university – from what other people tell me – is a different step forward. It's something I want to take on (on the road) to a professional career."
He joins the Griffins at an important time, too. The young upstart squad pushed hard for the first playoff spot in the program's Canada West tenure last season, falling just short on the final weekend.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism that they'll take another step forward in 2019 – chief among them how most of their starters were rookies in 2018 and are only going to be better and more acclimated to the level. Although Yassin will be a university freshman next season, he's at the same stage of his development as the core of the squad.
"The chemistry's there and the camaraderie's there, which is important," said Loga. "There's not many changes that need to happen with this group in the next three years. It's exciting."
