photo credit: Google Commons
Toronto F.C has sent four of its reserve players to their farm club, Toronto FC II of the United Soccer League (USL). The USL serves as the minor-league system of Major League Soccer. The four players: Alex Bono (Goalkeeper), Mark Bloom (Defender), Chris Mannella (Midfielder) and Mo Babouli (Forward) will be inserted into their new squad immediately.
Goalkeeper Alex Bono, 21, is in his second season in Toronto, last season he split time between Toronto FC and Toronto FC II. With Toronto FC II he started ten matches appearing in twelve in total over the course of the USL season. Bono posted a record of 2-8-0 and kept a single clean sheet. For his parent club Toronto FC he was named in the 18-man matchday squad once in 2015.
Defender Mark Bloom, 28, is currently in his fourth season in the Toronto FC organization. Bloom’s career came to a temporary halt last season as he spent the majority of Toronto’s matches on the sidelines with various injuries, including a quad tear which forced him to have surgery last summer. However Bloom is now expected to be at full strength after completing a strong training camp for the club. During his time in Toronto he has appeared in 35 matches and has registered two assists.
Midfielder Chris Mannella, 21, has spent three years in the Toronto FC system. He officially signed for the big club on September 15th, 2014, becoming the tenth player in club history to be signed directly from the academy. Last season he divided time between Toronto FC and Toronto FC II, he was named on the 18-man matchday squad for Toronto FC ten times. With Toronto FC II Mannella made history by becoming the first captain ever named by the team. He played in 16 matches last year and scored one goal.
Forward Mo Babouli, 23, is playing his debut season in Toronto. Babouli signed with Toronto FC on March 6th, 2016. He followed the aforementioned Chris Mannella by two spots when Babouli became the twelfth player in franchise history to be signed by Toronto FC from the academy. Babouli is coming off his first appearance with the big club last weekend when he came on as a substitute against Sporting Kansas City. Last season with Toronto FC II Babouli appeared in 20 games scoring four goals and notching four assists.
Toronto FC has retained the right to recall any of the four players throughout the course of the season, according to the Toronto FC official press release. Toronto FC II kicks off its season tomorrow against the New York Red Bulls II.
Toronto FC
