ORLANDO, Fla. — What started as a kid with a dream, growing up watching his heroes in purple represent his city in USL Pro back in the early 2010s, has now come to fruition after young defender Zakaria Taifi signed a Homegrown contract with Orlando City a few weeks ago.
"It just meant everything," Taifi told OrlandoCitySC.com. "Even signing for OCB from the Academy, I thought I was going to college, it wasn't really a thought in my head. It always was a dream that I've had since I was 10 years old."
The 19-year-old defender became the first player to climb the full ladder of Orlando City’s development pathway, from the youngest possible age at U9 Orlando City Soccer School, to the Development Academy, to Orlando City B, and now to the first team. It's a distinction that Taifi doesn't take lightly, considering how much he remembers looking up to older players who made the same journey that he is making now.
"It means a lot. It's really cool because I'm the first one to do that," he said. "It really showcases the pathway and can show the younger kids now, who are eight, nine years old, that 'I have a chance,' and that's really cool for me."
A few weeks ago Taifi and his family came to Inter&Co Stadium to do a photoshoot around the field and in the walkout tunnel. With him, Taifi brought all his jerseys from every step of his soccer journey - from the earliest of days in the Orlando City Soccer Schools to his most recent jersey after joining the MLS side.
"Seeing them all lined up like that, it's such a different perspective than with them just hanging up in my closet," he said. "Having them all in the stadium was so surreal. It's funny seeing the different sizes, how small I was, and how big the jerseys got. And each jersey tells a story, and all of them are something I'll never forget, each just built me to what I am today."
"I remember standing outside of Inter&Co Stadium when we were building it. It was all the workers and machines there, and I was just standing out there. It's crazy. Now, years later, I'm on the field there with the team. It's just so amazing to see how it's grown and being there for it all."
Taifi’s growth over the years has primarily been due to his hard work and dedication honing his craft, but for him, his family has been the center of it all. While he was putting in long hours on the triaining pitch, working with coaches and toiling away to fulfil his dream, his parents were sacrificing for him, driving him to practices, getting him the assistance he needed to reach that upper echelon of professional soccer.
"They really mean everything to me," he said. "Back in the Academy days, before OHP (Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park) or any of that, trainings were all over the place. I remember we had to drive an hour a day, every single day, to Sanford. With traffic and everything, it felt like the furthest drive ever. But my parents, they are the ones who really gave me this. So I'm so happy that I can give it back to them. They're super proud, and I'm super happy I can make them proud."
With Taifi joining the first team, he joins fellow homegrowns Alex Freeman, Thomas Williams, Tahir Reid-Brown, Favian Loyola, Colin Guske, Javier Otero and Gustavo Caraballo as MLS players. Since he grew up through every level of the Academy, those players have become "like brothers" to him, sharing a bond both on and off the pitch. Being able to share that journey from youth to the pros is something for the young defender that carries a special meaning to him.
"It's honestly so cool to have my friends who were just Academy kids, having a dream of getting signed. Now that we've gotten signed, we're living that dream together, kids who were on the same Academy team. Favian (Loyola) who's on the team, I've known him since we were 11 or 12, and now we're 19 and 20. Then others like Thomas, Tahir, those guys who've been here as well. So, it's crazy to think about. From national champions at U17 to the pros. But, this is just the beginning for us."
Now, as Taifi looks ahead to the rest of the season, he comes into training each day with added responsibility to his team and to his city that raised him. Whether it's starting for OCB or making an impact during first-team appearances, Taifi sees each game as an opportunity to represent something bigger than himself. But in the short term for the young Orlandoan, winning is the first thing on his mind.
"I want to lift some trophies. I want to help OCB. I want to contribute with goals, assists, having good games in general, being a solid player, and even coming into the first team," he said. "Opportunities come, and I want to take my chances. I want to help the team, both teams, no matter what - first team or OCB. I just want to win and be there for Orlando."