September Sandman Player of the Month: Fayia's workhorse play and leadership on full display
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – With stellar play all over the field for the Griffins men's soccer team, T-boy Fayia has been named the Griffins' Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton Player of the Month for September.
With the honour, Fayia wins a free night's stay at the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton hotel.
Fayia never came off the field during eight September games for the Griffins, playing a crucial role as a fullback both defensively and offensively.
"He's healthy," said head coach Adam Loga of the blessing its been to use Fayia as a workhorse defender in September. "I've always trusted him and loved his ability. He has such a strong skill-set and that's not even getting to start talking about who he is as a human.
"His first season he was ineligible due to his pro status until the last couple games. Last season, he picked up an injury after the first weekend that put him out the whole season.
"It was worth the wait. Obviously we would have loved to have had him earlier, but it's been totally worth the wait."
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Fayia didn't record a point during September, but he had five shots – including one on goal – and was a huge reason behind the scenes why MacEwan got into advanced positions, using his speed up the wing to constantly drive play.
"He has the ability and mindset to get forward when necessary, but he also has his superpower, which is obviously his pace, to help in transitional moments, as well," said Loga. "He's a really good 1v1 defender. He's got the ability to have a change of pace and skip by guys 1v1 in the attack as well."
That was on full display in bolstering a young lineup out there against then-U SPORTS No. 9 Calgary last Sunday, as Fayia helped lead the way to a 1-0 win.
"What we've really seen, especially over the last weekend, is his leadership," said Loga. "That aspect has grown tremendously. Of all his (qualities), leadership attributes over the course of this season has been his biggest progression.
"We saw him lead a group of young men last weekend – six first years, as we've spoken about – and out of that lineup we missed big pieces of our leadership group with Ali (Yildiz), Chance (Carter) and Jakob (Sievert) in that win. He had to take that leadership role on full throttle, if you will, and he did just that."
Fayia will lead the Griffins into action on Saturday at cross-town rival Alberta (2:15 p.m., Foote Field, Canada West TV).
