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New Toronto FC defender Henry Wingo happy to be back in North America

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TORONTO – After winning titles in Hungary with Ferencvarosi TC, Henry Wingo wanted to return to North America. And Toronto FC was delighted to welcome the American defender.

“He’s going to offer a lot to the team,” said Toronto coach John Herdman, happy to answer a question that wasn’t related to the Olympic drone scandal in which he, as a former Canada coach, has found himself entangled. “He’s going to offer an energy, a verve to that right-hand side.”

Herdman also cited the versatility and “technical quality” of the 28-year-old from Seattle.

Wingo has played predominantly at right fullback in a back four, but spent time last season as a centre back in a three-man backline after Ferencvarosi went through a coaching change. He has also seen time at wingback.

Wingo spent three seasons at the University of Washington before signing a homegrown contract with the Seattle Sounders in January 2017. He then headed to Europe, playing for Norway’s Molde FK in 2019 and 2020.

He played the next four seasons for Ferencvarosi, making more than 100 appearances across all competitions including UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League qualifying play. He won four league titles and one Hungarian Cup along the way with the Budapest-based team.

“I think I definitely ticked a lot of boxes while I was over there,” said Wingo. “Some guys go over there and don’t reach those levels. And I was happy to do so. I felt like I definitely achieved a lot of what I set out to do.

“Of course there’s always more you could have done or felt like you could have done. But I was ready at that point to move back in this direction.”

Herdman likes his experience, both in MLS and Europe, and ability to play several positions.

“He’s won at different clubs,” said the coach. “But more importantly he’s played as a centre back and a fullback, so he can bring the best of both worlds to Toronto FC.”

While Wingo has not played a competitive game since the end of May, he has already made an impression in training.

“He looks great,” said Toronto defender Shane O’Neill. “On the pitch he looks dynamic. He looks good on the ball. And the most important thing … he seems like a really good guy for the group. It’s been a great addition to the team.”

It’s early days, but Wingo feels at home already.

“It’s been wonderful,” said the defender set to wear No. 30 for TFC. “I really appreciate all the people who have helped me settle in so far.”

Out of contract with Ferencvarosi, Wingo wanted to come home to be closer to family and friends. But he has nothing but good things to say about Hungary and the storied franchise.

“It was a great 3 1/2 years,” he said. “I was really fortunate to play for a club that had a really high standard. We competed in Europe (cup play) every single season, which was my goal when I moved over to Europe.”

Toronto sent D.C. United US$75,000 in general allocation money for Wingo’s discovery rights, signing the defender through 2026 with an option for 2027.

Toronto hosts Mexico’s Pachuca on Sunday in Leagues Cup play. Both teams have already advanced to the round of 32 thanks to Pachuca’s penalty shootout win over the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday.

Mexico’s Tigres or Inter Miami await TFC in the cup competition that features 47 teams from MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.

Mexico’s Puebla, home to Canadian international forward Lucas Cavallini, was eliminated in a 2-1 loss to Tigres on Wednesday.

Saturday’s Tigres-Miami and Sunday’s Toronto-Pachuca games will determine who plays who in the first knockout round.

Herdman says Wingo is in “pre-season mode” but could make his debut off the bench Sunday.

“That’s what I’m hoping. That should lay another foundation for some more (playing) time,” he added.

While Toronto is 3,300 kilometres away from Seattle, Wingo noted the two cities have MLS history, having met in the 2016, ’17 and ’19 championship games (with Seattle winning in 2016 and ’19).

“In my times coming here in the past I was attracted to the city, attracted to the club and the support that the team gets.” said Wingo, whose girlfriend is scheduled to join him in several weeks. “A special place to play. It stood out compared to some of the other options that I had in the league.”

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2024

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CP NewsAlert: Two people confirmed killed when Vancouver Island road washed out

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PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.

The body of the other driver was found Sunday.

More coming.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Sonia Furstenau staying on as B.C. Greens leader in wake of indecisive election

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The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.

The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”

Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.

Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.

He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.

But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.

The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio making a difference off the pitch as well as on it

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Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.

The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.

Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.

Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”

Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

The winner will be announced in late November.

The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.

The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.

They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.

The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.

“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.

“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”

His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.

“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.

“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”

The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.

“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”

Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.

“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.

The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.

“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”

Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.

“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”

“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”

The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.

Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.

A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.

Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.



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