For the first time in an 11 year career in which he has established himself as one of Major League Soccer's all time great players Dwayne De Rosario has now won the MLS Golden Boot as the top scorer in the North American top flight. And with many prognosticators having predicted before the 2011 season that the 33 year forward/midfielder surely had to be starting on the beginning of his decline as a player now in his thirties, the Canadian International has one again proven his detractors wrong, not only with the Golden Boot award, but also with the fact that he is once again a favourite to take home the Major League Soccer MVP award.
De Rosario met with the Canadian media via conference call on Friday to discuss his success in 2011 and the Toronto native was quick to state that he wanted to thank his teammates and other important parties for the roles that they played in making it possible for him to finish the season as the top scorer in the MLS.
"I'd first like to congratulate my team for helping me to achieve this award. It's obviously kind of a double-edged sword at this point given that we were unable to make the playoffs. But on a personal note, I think I am pleased with my year and I really did try to do everything in my power to help my team to earn a playoff spot. I could not have done it without my teammates around me, the coaching staff and the fan support throughout the year, and hopefully I will have a couple more seasons like this," said De Rosario.
When asked why he seems to be getting better as a player at an age in which most players are starting to decline in terms of their athleticism and ability to compete at a high level in a very physical league like the MLS, De Rosario was candid in stating that while he could not put a finger on the exact reason for his longevity and succes, he does believe his mental focus on still trying to get better each year is something that has been a key driving force in his career.
"I don't know. You learn from experience I guess. Every year I always want to improve and do better than my previous year and there won't be any difference next year when I try to improve upon this year. I guess that's the mentality that keeps me going - to try and improve more and more every year and become a better player - because regardless of how good your year was, you still have a lot to learn. I can't really explain why it has happened. It is what it is and I'm very grateful for it and it definitely comes with hard work and determination and just working as hard as I can on and off the field to become a better player."
De Rosario was also asked to talk a little bit about how he trains in the offseason and whether or not he believes that there are key training approaches that he uses that other players might be able to use to extend their playing careers.
"I would say that there is no real offseason for me and I think my family can attest to that. I train right through and obviously it's a different type of training - when I am in my offseason I usually go to the Carribbean and train there. That's where a lot of my training takes place actually and I do a lot of running in the sand and on hills. I just try to take care of my body in the offseason and recuperate. Obviously, you need to give yourself some time to rest, but it is really only a two week break that I give my body to relax and to take care of myself in that manner. I think that's why I continue to be successful or it at least contributes to my success. You have to take care of yourself as a professional. This is what I do for a living, so it's every day, every week and every month that I am mentally focused and it's the attitude that you have to have."
The three time Canadian Player of the Year was also quick to state that he is not planning to put any limits on himself with respect to how long he can keep playing at such a high level.
"I'm not going to try and put an expiry date on it. I'm going to take it one step at a time and take care of myself and I'm going to play as long as I can give 100% when I pass the white line. I plan on competing until then."
In addition to the fact that has won one major MLS award and is on the cusp of a second at the tender age of 33, it also has to be noted that De Rosario's accomplishments have come amid a season rife with professional turbulence, as he played for three clubs during the 2011 season and looked very much like he never missed a beat even with all of the change that switching clubs entails.
"There was a lot to deal with, I can tell you that much. With the relocations and the constant having to work alongside different players and having to overcome all of that. Like I said, they really made it easy for me (in D.C.) as soon as I got here and they made me feel comfortable. The fans really took to me and showed me a lot of support, as well as the organization. And that made things on and off the field a lot more easy. It definitely was a difficult year in terms going from Toronto to New York and then from New York to D.C., not only for me, but also for my family. But we overcame it and once I am on the field, that's where my heart and my passion is and when I get out there I just try to play for that enjoyment and try to work hard for whoever is beside me on my team. I tried to do that every game this year."
Given that he has been he has already collected so many personal and team trophies in his time in the MLS, the Canadian Superstar was also asked what it would mean to him to be named as the league MVP for the first time in his career.
"It would mean a lot to be honest. I have been a runner-up quite a few times and to actually win it would be special to me and it would also mean a lot for all of the Canadian kids out there who are aspiring to play professional soccer, especially in Toronto and Scarborough where I come from. It would be a huge lift for a lot of people that look up to me and that want to play professional soccer and would be proof that you can do it regardless of what you personal situation is."
With Canada scheduled to play two more World Cup qualifying matches in November, it seems that it is pretty much a certainty that the player who captained the Canadian National Team in its last two fixtures will have wait at least a few more weeks before he can begin his offseason regimen. And according to De Rosario, he would not have it any other way, as he believes that Canada is in a good place right now and has to focus primarily on the task at hand, which is sealing a place in the next round of World Cup qualifying.
"It's very positive. I think the team is looking forward to getting the business done in these next two games and moving on to the next round of the Group Stages. We can't look past St. Kitts. Obviously they are team that is in a good position as well, so we definitely can't take them lightly or take these games for granted. We have to go out there and mean business. We just need a point, but it would be nice to get a win or two out of these games."
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