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19-year-old goalkeeper Quillan Roberts has received his first senior national team call up from coach Benito Floro. In addition to that distinction, Canada’s match against Jamaica will also take place in front of his family and friends and within the familiar surroundings of the National Soccer Stadium (aka BMO Field).
“I’m excited to be here, it’s a privilege to be with the national team,” the Toronto FC goalkeeper told RedNation. “Anybody who gets a chance to play for Canada is always going to be excited about it and I’m ready to do my best.”
Interestingly, Roberts has seen the majority of his playing time this year away from Toronto with the Wilmington Hammerheads in USL PRO. It has been an experience that has given him much needed playing time and has allowed him to focus simply on developing.
“With Wilmington, I was playing in games where the results mattered and was playing every week,” he explained.
“Being a young keeper, it has helped me move forward in my career and coming back to Toronto FC I’m just looking to taking the next step, getting some minutes there and using what I’ve learned.
Canada match against Jamaica on September 9th is also special for TFC Academy graduate in another way, as being of Jamaican decent it brings up an interesting dynamic for the young keeper.
“My mother’s side of the family is of Jamaican decent,” Roberts said. “So it’s special to play against the other half of my nationality.”
That scenario brings up a unique dynamic for Roberts, as there are some divided loyalties with respect to support that makes this particular match even more interesting.
Toronto FC goalkeeper Quillan Roberts speaks with RedNation about his first call-up to the Canadian Men's National Team.
As Canadian-Jamaicans, this situation has reared its head across my own family from a fan perspective, especially when any major international event like the Olympics comes along.
Even from an individual standpoint with respect to this game, although I’m covering it and thus would need to stay neutral anyways, I’m likely one of few people that would be pulling for something like a crazy 5-5 draw.
Given that he is a keeper, Roberts most likely isn’t hoping for that type of sentiment.
That said, he did admit that he understands the sentiment of something approaching dual support.
When asked if all of his family would be rooting for Canada, Roberts said with a smile and a chuckle.
“They’re half and half.”
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