Farago looks to impress at Canadian national-team camp, and wants to win FCE No. 1 job

Tyson Farago

Will 2016 by Tyson Farago’s year?

The FC Edmonton keeper already has a few things on his to-do list: He wants to be the team’s everyday starting goalkeeper; he wants to help the club push into the NASL playoffs, and he wants to impress Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro.

The Winnipeg native will he heading to California for his first-ever senior national-team camp, which runs Jan. 25-Feb. 6 and includes a friendly against the United States. Farago is one of three Eddies to get the call, joining fullback Nik Ledgerwood and centre back Mallan Roberts.

“I got the call about three weeks ago, and I’ve had to keep it in since then,” said Farago. “I told my close friends and relatives, but no social media, no public announcements, not until today.”

But, soon after Canada Soccer announced the roster on Friday, his social-media accounts have been filled with messages.

“I got a call from Darren [FCE goalkeeping coach Darren Woloshen] and he’s real excited for me. And I’ve seen a lot of the Twitter comments and messages posted to my Facebook page. There’s a lot of support out there, and I’m really appreciative of that.” Even though it’s Farago’s first senior call-up, he’ll be the elder statesman when it comes to the three keepers Floro has brought in. He’s 24, older than Callum Irving or Maxime Crepeau.

“I’m just so excited to get a shot,” said Farago. “I want to be able to show them what I can do. They can see what I am all about.”

And, he said that the Canadian camp will provide a shot in the arm ahead of FCE training camp. Farago has made three starts over the past two seasons, but he feels that the door is open for him to impress coach Colin Miller and Woloshen. He thinks there will be a real competition for the No. 1 shirt.

“I want to challenge myself. I want the club to challenge itself, to get to the playoffs and win a championship. And I definitely want to push for that number-one job. I want them to look to me to be the number-one every game.”

In his three NASL starts, Farago earned an NASL team of the week selection once. And, many times has Miller praised the way Farago can get his foot behind the balls on goal kicks. “He kicks like a mule,” Miller has said over and over about the keeper.

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